Dipika Pallikal teamed up with Saurav Ghosal and Joshna Chinappa to win the mixed doubles and women’s doubles title respectively at World Doubles Championships.
Less than six months after giving birth to twins, Dipika Pallikal won not one but two title at WSF World Doubles Championships. Playing with brother-in-law Saurav Ghosal, she clinched the mixed doubles title with a 11-6, 11-8 win over England’s Adrian Waller and Alison Waters. An hour and a half later, Dipika with her longtime teammate Joshna Chinappa triumphed in the women’s doubles final after a hard fought 11-9, 4-11, 11-8 win over England’s Sarah Jane Perry and Waters.
In the year of Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, this tournament was a perfect preparation for Dipika, Joshna and Ghosal. Players from all top squash playing countries, except Egypt, took part in this tournament.
“It is a good preparation for us for CWG which is the main target. The competition is more or less the same (here and CWG) and we know more about our opponents and we know where we need to improve,” the 30-year-old Dipika told PTI.
The seasoned trio continue to bring laurels to the country even after more than 15 years of competing at the highest level. They are hoping that this performance will help in their inclusion in the government’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). Saurav Ghoshal said: “I don’t know why we’re not included this time but I hope we are soon. Irrespective of that, it doesn’t change my goals and plans but with TOPS, things do get easier and faster.”
Dipika and Joshna made history in 2014 when they won the women’s doubles gold at the Common Wealth Games. They had also won a bronze in World Doubles back in 2017. After the World Title win Joshna Chinappa said, “The job gets easier when you have a strong partner like Dipika. We have got confidence from this result but we need to work harder.”
