The 18-year-old, Aditi, who has been a big hit on the Ladies European Tour in her rookie season, had six birdies against three bogeys for a round of three-under 69. She was four shots behind the leader.
The leader was Iceland's Olafia Kristinsdottir, who had eight birdies and just one bogey in her seven-under 65.
So this week will be a good tune up, and the Abu Dhabi event also includes four former Hero Indian Open winners, including defending champion, Emily Kristine Pedersen (69), Gwladys Nocera (68), Caroline Hedwall (72) and Laura Davies (74).
A good finish from Aditi could see her make a strong bid for the Rookie of the Year honours, where she lies third behind Nuria Iturrios of Spain, who carded three-over 75, and Angel Yin, who was even after 10 holes.
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Aditi had mixed feelings about her front and back nines.
"I hit a few good approach shots in the first few holes and kept myself in play and gave myself few chances and made the putts. A couple of them were good long ones. It was a good day and they went in. I holed a 25-footer on second and then a 30-footer on sixth and the rest were inside 15 feet. That was a good start," she said.
"Still, not bad, three-under. But I know my back nine could have been a lot better. I will try and play the back nine the way I played the front (nine) today and put myself in good positions tomorrow," Aditi added.
Beth Allen, second on the Order of Merit, shot 66 and was tied second with Sarah Kemp of Australia, Olivia Cowan of Germany and Minea Blomquist of Finland, who had similar scores.
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