Dipika Pallikal

Dipika Pallikal Karthik is a trailblazer in Indian squash player who became a national champion at the age of 11. Her professional career began at just 15, and after initial struggles, she found her stride following a pivotal training stint in Egypt. In 2011, Dipika emerged as a force in women's squash by capturing three WISPA tour titles, starting with the Orange County Open in California and followed by victories in the United States and Hong Kong. These successes propelled her to a career-best ranking of 14 in 2012, surpassing previous Indian records. Notably, she made history by reaching the final of the Tournament of Champions in New York, becoming the first Indian woman to achieve such a milestone in a Silver event.

Her breakthrough continued in 2012 when she reached the semi-finals of the prestigious Australian Open, a first for any Indian in a gold event. Dipika's contributions were pivotal as part of the Indian squash team that achieved a commendable fifth-place finish at the 2012 Women's World Team Squash Championships, defeating higher-ranked opponents along the way.

The pinnacle of Dipika's career came at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where she partnered with Joshna Chinappa to clinch India's first-ever Commonwealth Games medal in squash, a gold in women's doubles. This historic achievement reflected her ability to excel on the global stage and cemented her status as a national sporting icon.