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Dipika Pallikal Karthik is an Indian squash player. She is the first Indian to get featured in the top 10 World Rankings by Professional Squash Association. Also, she is the wife of renowned Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik. Dipika started her career in a promising fashion but later moved on to Squash. She reached the final of the Chennai Open in 2008, beating the first and third seeds on her way. This phenomenal player is known to play a prominent role in making Squash popular among the Indian masses. In this blog, we will explore the life of Indian squash player Dipika Pallikal Karthik, her journey, career, achievements, family, marriage, photos, etc.
About Dipika Pallikal Karthik
| Name | Dipika Pallikal |
| Dipika Pallika Age | 31 years |
| Date of Birth | 21 September 1991 |
| Coach | Sarah Fitz-Gerald, Amir Wagih |
| Sport | Squash |
| Plays | Right Handed |
| Achievement | First female Squash player to win Arjuna award (2012). Padma Shri in 2014 |
| Siblings | Divya Pallikal, Dia Pallikal |
| Dipika Pallika Height | 171 c.m |
| Weight | 69 kg |
| Gender | Female |
| Dipika Pallikal Husband | Dinesh Karthik |
| Dipika Pallikal marriage date | 18 August 2015 |
| Parent | Sanjiv and Susan Pallikal |
| Dipika Pallika Hometown | Chennai, India |
| Dipika Pallika Networth | $1.5 Million |
| Dipika Pallikal child | Kabir Pallikal Karthik and Zian Pallikal Karthik |
| Current ranking | No. 19 |
| Highest ranking | No 10 |
| Dipika Pallikal zodiac sign | Virgo |
| Dipika Pallikal Instagram | @dipikapallikal |
| Dipika Pallika Twitter | @DipikaPallikal |
Chennai-born Dipika Pallikal started playing Squash at a time when it was considered a sport for the elite few. Dipika played her first international tournament in London when she was in sixth grade. Her first real potential in the sport could be seen when she reached the final of the Chennai Open in 2008. To reach the finale, she had defeated the first and third seeds.
The first honors came two years later when she won her Tour title in 2010 after toppling the top two seeds to claim the Indian Challenger No.5 trophy. Thereafter, she went on to double her tally by clinching the Nepal Open. By 2011, she was in the world’s top-30, before improving her climb up to top-20 after winning a number of titles throughout the year. That year, Dipika also achieved a credit-worthy quarter-final place at the World Championship.
Dipika Pallikal Karthik Timeline
2012
Her amazing form continued in 2012 when Pallikal made it to the final of the prestigious Tournament of Champions in January. However, Natalie Grinham comfortably beat her in the final match.
She was also a major part of the Indian squash team that finished 5th in the Women’s World Team Squash Championships. India was seeded tenth in the event and defeated higher-ranked Ireland and the Netherlands in the process. Pallikal defeated seasoned players like Madeline Perry in the tournament.
In December 2012, she broke into the top ten for the first time, also becoming the first Indian to achieve the distinction. She then went on to become the first Female Squash player to be conferred with the Arjuna Award, India’s second-highest sporting award in that year.
2013
2013 was a big year for India, as the country bagged two prestigious titles.
The most notable of the two was the Macau Open triumph that came in October. In February 2013, Dipika won the sixth WSA title of her career after defeating Joey Chan of Hong Kong in straight sets 11–9, 11–7, 11–4 of the final of the Meadowood Pharmacy Open in Canada’s Winnipeg.
2014
If 2013 was big, 2014 turned out to be even bigger and spectacular. In 2014, Dipika partnered with Joshna Chinappa to win India’s first medal in Squash. They had defeated Laura Massaro and Jenny Duncalf of England to pocket the historic gold.
2015
Later, after featuring at the JSW Circuit in 2014, Pallikal collected her 10th Tour title in January 2015 after triumphing at the Winter Club Open. A month later she missed out on the Granite Open title after being defeated by Sarah-Jane Perry.
2016
Dipika managed to reach the final of the Victoria Open in 2016 where she eventually lost to Millie Tomlinson after five games. The squash player then backed this up by going one further and sealing victory in the Australian Open when she beat Egyptian Mayar Hany over four games.
Dipika Pallikal Karthik and Joshna Chinappa- Rivals?
Only a month after Joshna and Dipika scripted history by winning India’s first-ever gold at the Commonwealth Games 2014, both of them lost their cool on the court during Asian Games 2014 in Incheon, South Korea. They had a heated exchange of words, which unfortunately resulted in the successful pair splitting up. They were reportedly not even on talking terms.
The incident happened during the quarter-finals match between the two, where Dipika defeated her doubles partner Joshna. She went on to win India’s first women’s singles medal at the Asian Games.
Even before the Games, both Dipika and Joshna had named the draw as being “unfortunate” as both the Indians were in the same pool.
“It is back to normal between us. We have known each other way too long to not sort out our differences. And we also live in the same city (Chennai). Besides that, both of us realize the importance of playing together and get more medals for India,” later revealed Joshna.
Dipika, who is five years junior to Joshna, too has reportedly now moved on from the Incheon incident.
Dipika Pallikal Family
Dipika Pallikal was born to Sanjiv Pallikal and Susan Pallikal (née Itticheria) in Chennai on 21st September 1991. Hers is a Malayali family as both Sanjiv and Susan are natives of Kerala. Dipika got her sporting genes from her mother who has represented the Indian women’s team in international cricket. She also has two siblings named Diya Pallikal and Divya Pallikal.
Marriage: Dinesh Karthik and Dipika Pallikal
Dipika met Dinesh Karthik, a Chennai-born Indian cricketer in 2013 at a gym, where they both frequented. In fact, they also shared the same fitness coach. Their friendship grew stronger and later culminated into a relationship when Dinesh popped the question in London. The duo tied the knot in August 2015.
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 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 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 | Top 5 Squash Academy in India
Social Media
And just like that 3 became 5🤍@DineshKarthik and I are very humbled to have been blessed with two beautiful baby boys, Kabir Pallikal Karthik & Zian Pallikal Karthik, and we could not be happier🤍 pic.twitter.com/siyyt3MlUU
— Dipika Pallikal (@DipikaPallikal) October 28, 2021
Let's do this!🏃♀️
— Dipika Pallikal (@DipikaPallikal) May 1, 2021
My first running session after 2 months of rehab. Feels so good to be back up and running ⚡ pic.twitter.com/rwi5sp2Ykt
Those white winters of NY ❄️#ThrowbackThursday pic.twitter.com/KtuOyyWQEn
— Dipika Pallikal (@DipikaPallikal) April 15, 2021
Dipika Pallikal Photos
FAQs
Dipika Pallikal Karthik is an Indian professional squash player who has gained recognition for her achievements in the sport at both national and international levels.
Dipika Pallikal Karthik has numerous notable achievements, including being the first Indian to break into the top 10 of the PSA Women’s World Squash rankings. She has also won multiple medals in prestigious events like the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
Dipika Pallikal Karthik’s husband is Dinesh Karthik. He is a renowned Indian cricketer who has played for the Indian national team as a wicket-keeper-batsman. Dinesh Karthik has also captained various domestic cricket teams in India.
Dipika Pallikal Karthik got married to Dinesh Karthik on August 18, 2015. Their wedding ceremony was held in Chennai, India, and was attended by family, friends, and fellow athletes.
