Dipika Pallikal

With an impeccable track record and has been a perfect role model for the nation.

--Shibu Pallikal

A natural athlete, Dipika Pallikal took a liking to squash at the age of nine after which there was no looking back for this Malayali girl living in Chennai. Determined to make it big, she left the comforts of her home at the age of 14 to train in Egypt under acclaimed coach Amir Wagh. She flourished under his guidance and in a matter of four years went on to win nine open titles and several other national tournaments thereby firmly establishing herself in the junior circuit. It was only a matter of time before she became the number 1 player in the under 19 category and received a nomination for the “Young Player of the Year” award at the World Squash Awards, 2009 for her exceptional achievements.
Dipika didn’t lose her excellent touch as she moved on to the senior circuit and walked away with the WISPA Indian Challenger No. 5 and the Nepal Open titles in 2010. The same year, she was also a part of the women’s team which secured a bronze medal at the Asian Games.
The year 2011 was the cardinal point in the career of this distinguished athlete as she claimed three prestigious WISPA titles – Orange County Open (California), Dread Sports Series Tournament (Washington) and Crocodile Challenge Cup (Hong Kong) and advanced into the top twenty world rankings. In recognition of her efforts, she was awarded the L’Oreal Femina Best Sportsperson  and the NDTV 24/7 Rockstar  best sportswoman awards of 2011.
Dipika scaled new heights in 2012 and  reached the finals of the Tournament of Champions squash meet held in New York (Silver event) and the semi finals of the Australian Open (Gold event), becoming the only Indian to achieve such remarkable feats. She later helped India clinch its maiden women’s title at the Asian Team Squash Tournament of 2012. However, the crowning glory for this sportsperson came when the Indian Government acknowledging her consistent string of remarkable performances, presented her with  the Arjuna Award. Only 20 years of age, she became the first squash player to be bestowed with such great honor. The year ended with another high for the athlete as she secured the 10th position in the world rankings and became the first Indian to accomplish so.
In 2013, she displayed great tenacity in the Meadowood Pharmacy Open (Canada) to set up a final against the second seeded Joey Chan and won the contest in straight games taking her total WSA title’s tally to six. Currently training under her coach Sarah Fitz-Gerald, a famous squash player, Dipika aspires to carve a formidable image for India in the international arena by becoming the number 1 squash player in the world.
With an impeccable track record and a clean and controversy free image off the court, the  soft-spoken athlete has been a perfect role model for the nation. This view was echoed by Mr. Praveen Kumar [Chief Electoral Officer (Tamil Nadu)] approached Dipika to join the campaign initiated by the Election Commission to spread awareness and encourage eligible voters to enroll during the Summary Revision and exercise their right to vote.
The versatile athlete who flaunts a spectacular attitude and maintains a unique and glamorous style quotient was honored with the India Today Woman in Sports award, 2013. A fine mix of talent, intelligence and good looks she featured in Femina magazine’s list of the 10 most Beautiful Women and the People’s magazine’s list of the 40 most Beautiful Women, of 2013. An articulate speaker she has also been a forerunner in the campaign to include squash as an Olympic discipline.
In her illustrious career Dipika Pallikal has overcome many odds to make a mark for herself. Not afraid of taking challenges head on she accepts every defeat with the same grace with which she welcomes every victory. Her confident, pragmatic and unpretentious disposition towards life which also reflects in her demeanor on court makes her one of the most amicable opponents on court. Such a quality speaks volumes about this young athlete who aims to continue delivering match winning performances and inspire many athletes especially Indians to achieve and succeed. It comes as no surprise then, that she was invited by ITC Classmate to deliver a talk at the Ryan International School where the suave athlete, who is pursuing a degree in English Literature, while emphasizing on the importance of formal education, advised the 5000 odd young listeners, to follow their dreams no matter how unconventional their career choices were.
Dipika has a long career ahead of her and she desires to be able to make her humble contributions towards the development of the sport which has given her so much. Therefore, as a promising sportsperson and a true youth icon, who epitomizes skill, perseverance and dedication, Dipika Pallikal may be a rightful candidate for the esteemed Padma Shri Award, 2013.

DIPIKA PALLIKAL  --  SQUASH
ARJUNA AWARDEE   --  2012
India No. 1
Asia No.  3
World No. 12
Asian Games – Bronze Medal
Asian Championship – Gold Medal

First Indian to Reach Top 10 in the World – 2012

First Indian to reach World No.1 in Junior Under – 19  Rankings – 2010.

First Indian to reach Quarter Finals in a World Open Championship – 2011.

First Indian to win Gold Medal in Sr. Asian team Championship at Kuwait – May,2012.

First Indian to Reach the Finals of the Tournament of Championship in New York January 2012.

First Indian to reach Semi Finals in the Australian Open 2012 Grand Slam Tournament.
 

 

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