Dipika Pallikal, a prominent Indian squash player and the wife of cricketer Dinesh Karthik, boasts a fascinating biography that includes her sports achievements and personal life details.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born on September 21, 1991, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, Dipika Pallikal is currently 32 years old. She follows the Christian faith and is known for her exemplary career in squash. Dipika’s wedding to Dinesh Karthik, the Indian cricketer, took place on August 18, 2015, with Christian rituals at The Leela Palace hotel in Chennai, followed by Hindu rituals at ITC Grand Chola in Chennai on August 20, 2015.
In terms of her family, Dipika Pallikal’s father is Sanjiv Pallikal, and her mother is Susan Itticheria, a former Indian cricketer who also captained the Indian women’s cricket team. Dipika has two sisters, Divya Pallikal and Dia Pallikal.
EDUCATION
Aside from her sporting achievements, Dipika Pallikal holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in English Honors, which she earned at Ethiraj College for Women in Chennai. She was mentored by renowned coach Sarah Fitz-Gerald.
PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
In terms of her physical attributes, Dipika stands at approximately 165 centimeters (5 feet 5 inches) and weighs around 55 kilograms (121 pounds). Her figure measurements are approximately 34-26-36, and she possesses striking black eyes and black hair.
CAREER
Dipika Pallikal made her international squash debut in the year 2006 and went on to achieve several notable milestones in her career. In January 2012, she became the first Indian to reach the final of a silver-level tournament. The same year, she also reached the semi-finals of a gold-level tournament. In December 2012, she broke into the Official Women’s Squash World Top 10 Rankings, making history as the first Indian to achieve this feat. In 2013, Dipika Pallikal received the prestigious Arjuna Award, becoming the first female squash player to be honored with this accolade.
Her list of achievements includes winning various medals in squash tournaments, such as the Orange County Open, Dread Sports Series, Crocodile Challenge Cup in 2011, the Macau Squash Open and Meadowood Pharmacy Open in 2013, and a bronze medal in the women’s singles tournament at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, among others. She also secured a gold medal along with her partner, Joshna Chinappa, in the women’s doubles tournament at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. Notably, in 2023, Dipika Pallikal Karthik and Harinderpal Singh Sandhu clinched the gold medal at the Asian Squash Mixed Doubles Championships.
Dipika Pallikal is not just a talented athlete; she also has a life outside of sports. She is known for her passion for traveling and has shown interests in various brands like Diesel, Gas, Guess, and Promod.
Some lesser-known facts about Dipika Pallikal include her Malayali Christian heritage with Syrian origins. She is Dinesh Karthik’s second wife and has been associated with a family deeply rooted in sports. Interestingly, despite her family’s cricket background, Dipika had a dislike for cricket from a young age, feeling that it overshadowed other sports. She embarked on her squash journey at the age of ten and played her first international tournament in London when she was in the sixth grade.
Her commitment to squash led her to participate in the European Junior Squash Circuit, where she competed among U-19 junior squash players and won several tournaments. Although she turned into a professional squash player at the age of 15, Dipika encountered challenges and struggled for nearly five years before gaining better opportunities. Her determination and dedication led her to Egypt in 2011 to hone her skills in squash, resulting in improved performances and a successful career in the sport.
