Indian squash player Dipika Pallikal Karthik is an Indian squash player. She is the first Indian to appear in the Professional Squash Association’s top 10 World Rankings. She is also married to Dinesh Karthik, a well-known Indian cricket player. Although Dipika had a bright beginning to her career, she eventually switched to squash. In 2008, she defeated the top and third seeds to advance to the Chennai Open final. It is well known that this extraordinary player had a significant influence on the spread of squash among Indians. We shall go into the life of Indian squash player Dipika Pallikal Karthik in this blog, including her upbringing, profession, accomplishments, family, marriage, and images. Scroll down to read about India’s Squash Superstar Dipika Pallikal Karthik Biography.
India’s Squash Superstar Dipika Pallikal Karthik Biography
When Chennai native, Dipika Pallikal, first began playing squash, the sport was viewed as exclusive to a select few. When Dipika was in the sixth grade, she participated in her first international competition in London. Her 2008 trip to the Chennai Open final demonstrated her first true promise in the sport. She had defeated the top two seeds to go to the championship round.
After defeating the top two seeds to win the Indian Challenger No. 5 trophy, she went on to win her Tour championship two years later in 2010. She then won the Nepal Open, doubling her total after that.
She was in the top 30 in the world by 2011, and after taking home several trophies that year, she managed to move up to the top 20. Dipika also made an impressive quarterfinal appearance in the World Championship that year.
Dipika Pallikal Karthik Timeline
2012
Pallikal’s incredible form continued in 2012 when she advanced to the prestigious Tournament of Champions final in January. But in the end, Natalie Grinham defeated her with ease.
In the Women’s World Team Squash Championships, she played a significant role for the Indian squash team, which placed fifth. India entered the tournament ranked tenth and won against the Netherlands and Ireland, two teams with higher rankings. Pallikal won the competition against more experienced players like Madeline Perry.
She made her first entry into the top ten in December 2012, making history as the first Indian to do so. Later on, she became the first female squash player to receive the Arjuna Award, which was given out that year and is India’s second-highest sporting honor.
2013
India had a great year in 2013 after winning two major international championships.
Of the two, the October victory at the Macau Open was the most noteworthy. In the Meadowood Pharmacy Open final in Winnipeg, Canada, in February 2013, Dipika defeated Joey Chan of Hong Kong in straight sets, 11–9, 11–7, 11–4, to win her sixth career WSA title.
2014
2014 proved to be even more remarkable and bigger than 2013. Together with Joshna Chinappa, Dipika won India’s first-ever squash medal in 2014. They had taken home the historic gold by defeating Jenny Duncalf and Laura Massaro of England.
2015
Afterward, Pallikal won her 10th Tour title in January 2015 after winning the Winter Club Open, following her appearance at the JSW Circuit in 2014. A month later, Sarah-Jane Perry defeated her, preventing her from winning the Granite Open championship.
2016
In 2016, Dipika made it to the Victoria Open final, where she was defeated by Millie Tomlinson in five sets. The squash player then demonstrated her will by winning the Australian Open in four games after defeating Mayar Hany, an Egyptian.
Dipika Pallikal Karthik and Joshna Chinappa- Rivals?
During the Asian Games 2014, Incheon, South Korea, Joshna, and Dipika lost their composure on the court, just one month after they made history by capturing India’s first-ever gold at the Commonwealth Games. A furious argument ensued between them, which regrettably led to the prosperous couple breaking up. They were not even on talking terms.
The event took place during Dipika and Joshna’s quarterfinal match, in which Dipika triumphed over her doubles partner. She went on to win the first-ever Asian Games medal for India in women’s singles.
Joshna and Dipika had described the draw as “unfortunate” even before the Games because both Indian players were in the same pool.
“Our relationship is back to normal now. We have been friends for far too long to ignore our disagreements. Furthermore, we both reside in Chennai. In addition, we both understand how important it is to work together to win more medals for India, Joshna subsequently disclosed.
Joshna’s five-year-old sister Dipika is also said to have gone past the Incheon tragedy.
Dipika Pallikal Family
On September 21, 1991, Sanjiv Pallikal and Susan Pallikal (née Itticheria) welcomed Dipika into the world in Chennai. Given that Susan and Sanjiv are both from Kerala, her family is Malayali. Her mother, who has played international cricket for the Indian women’s team, gave Dipika her sporty genes. Divya Pallikal and Diya Pallikal are her two other siblings.
Marriage: Dinesh Karthik and Dipika Pallikal
Dipika met Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik in 2013 in a gym. Dinesh Karthik is a Chennai-born Indian Cricketer. They had the same fitness instructor. After growing closer, their acquaintance eventually turned into a relationship when Dinesh proposed in London. In August 2015, the couple exchanged vows.
Achievements
Titles
- Indian Challenger 2010
- Macau Open 2013
- Meadowood Pharmacy Open 2013
- Winter Club Open 2015
- Granite Open (runner-up) 2015
- Australian Open 2016
International Games
- Gold at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games (Women’s Doubles)
- Silver at 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games (Women’s Doubles)
- Silver at 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games (Mixed Doubles)
- Bronze at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games (Women’s Singles)
- Silver at 2014 Incheon Asian Games (Women’s Team)
- Bronze at 2018 Jakarta Asian Games (Women’s Singles)
Dipika Pallikal Awards
- Arjuna award in 2012
- Padma Shri in 2014
- Big Star most entertaining sportsperson of the year 3013
Also read, Saurav Ghosal Biography- Everything About The Squash Player
