Dipika Pallikal Biography, Age, Height, Marriage & Cricket Career

Dipika Pallikal is one of India’s best female players ever. She has created history throughout her career and became the face of Indian squash. A successful player, a model and the youngest ever Padma Shri awardee, she has been an inspiration.

Dipika Pallikal was born on 21^st September, 1991 in Chennai, TamilNadu, India, into a Malayali family. Her full name is Dipika Rebecca Pallikal. Her zodiac sign is Virgo. Currently she is 26 years old (as of August 2018).

The Indian Squash Star is 5 feet 7 inches tall with black hair and beautiful brown eyes. She weighs 65 kg with body measurements of 34-26-36.

A post shared by Dipika Pallikal Karthik (@dipikapallikal) on Aug 12, 2016 at 5:57am PDT

Her Father Sanjiv George Pallikal and her Mother Susan Pallikal (Susan Itticheria), are Malayali Christian couple of Syrian origin. They were originally from Kallooppara village in Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala.

Her father is the Managing Director & Founder of “Reach Management Consultants pvt. Ltd., Chennai.

Her mother Susan Itticheria had played 7 test matches and 2 One Day International Matches for the Indian national women cricket team from year 1976 to 1978.

A post shared by Dipika Pallikal Karthik (@dipikapallikal) on Mar 31, 2014 at 1:30am PDT

She also has two elder sisters Divya and Dia Pallikal. While the eldest Divya is a chartered accountant, the middle one Dia is a graphic designer.

A post shared by Dipika Pallikal Karthik (@dipikapallikal) on May 21, 2017 at 8:57pm PDT

She did her schooling from “Good Shepherd Matriculation Higher Secondary School”, Chennai and her graduation in B.A. (English Hons.) From “Ethiraj College for Women”, Chennai.

Earlier she had trained at three places — in Egypt, under “Amr Wagih”, in England, under “Malcolm Wilstrop” and in her hometown Chennai, under “Cyrus Poncha”. But there came a great improvement in her game and ranking since she was coached by 6 time world champion “Sarah Fitz-Gerald” of Australia.

In 2012, she became the 1^st Female Squash player to be conferred with the “Arjuna Award” (India’s 2^nd highest sporting award).

In 2014, she went one better and won the “Padma Shri award” (India’s 4^th highest civilian honour). She was the youngest ever Padma Shri awardee.

A post shared by Dipika Pallikal Karthik (@dipikapallikal) on Mar 31, 2014 at 8:57pm PDT

Dipika Pallikal and Dinesh Kartik:

Dipika and Kartik first meet briefly during the 2008 Chennai marathon. Dinesh Kartik was then married to “Nikita Vanjara”. It was a love marriage and they were childhood lovebirds.

But they get divorced in 2012. While Nikita Vanjara got married to another Indian cricketer “Murali Vijay”, in the same year, fate has other plans for Kartik .

A post shared by Dipika Pallikal Karthik (@dipikapallikal) on Jul 27, 2018 at 6:54am PDT

Dipika and Dinesh met again in 2013 while training under the same Trainer “Mr. Shankar Basu” at the Maverick gym in Chennai, though they have different timing.

During one of the fitness Session at the Gym, Dinesh Karthik asked Dipika for dinner, but she lied that she is leaving for Australia the next day.

Next morning Kartik went to the gym at dipika’s timing and caught her lie. She became very embarrassed. The next day both met for breakfast and there was a long conversation between the two and a friendship blossomed.

A post shared by Dipika Pallikal Karthik (@dipikapallikal) on Jul 4, 2015 at 11:21am PDT

Their friendship blossomed into love during Feb 2013, when Kartik flew all the way to Leeds England to meet her, where she was undergoing a week long Training.

In June 2013 that he asked her to marry him. They got engaged on November 15, 2013 in Chennai.

The Couple got married on 18^th August 2015 as per Christian rituals at the Leela Palace Hotel, Chennai. And two days later on 20^th August 2015 they got married for the second time in a Telugu-Naidu style wedding at the ITC Grand Chola, Chennai.

Also read 20 Most Beautiful Indian Cricketer’s Wives Short Bio

A post shared by Dipika Pallikal Karthik (@dipikapallikal) on Aug 21, 2015 at 11:48am PDT

The couple bought together a beautiful lavish house in the posh neighbourhood of Poes Garden, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Dipika Pallikal Modelling, Films and Ads:

1. Cardia Life oil Ad

2. Fabelle Exquisite Chocolates Ad

3. OnePlus ad

4. TN Elections 2016 Ad

5. Verve Magazine Cover Page Model:

A post shared by Dipika Pallikal Karthik (@dipikapallikal) on Jul 30, 2015 at 10:25pm PDT

Dipika Pallikal Kartik and Joshna Chinappa (Head-to-Head):

A post shared by Dipika Pallikal Karthik (@dipikapallikal) on Jul 27, 2014 at 4:09pm PDT

Dipika pallikal Squash Journey:

She started playing squash, when she was 8 years old. When she was in her 6^th grade, she played her first international tournament in London.

In 2002, at the age of 11, she became a national junior champion.

In 2006 she started participating in the professional senior squash circuit

From 2003 till Aug 2018, Dipika had played in 192 international events and 501 matches.

Some of her career highlights were:

1. 5 WISPA (Women’s International Squash Players Association) Title won during April 2010 to Dec 2011

2. Windy City Open 2011 – Runner-up:

3. Tournament of champions 2012- Runner up

Australian Open 2012 – semifinalist

She became the 1^st Indian ever to reach the finals of a “Silver squash event” when she reached the final of the “Tournament of Champions” squash meet in New York in 2012.

Dipika Pallikal then made history by becoming the 1^st Indian player to reach the semi-final of a ‘WSA” Gold event at “Australian Open”.

Dipika Pallikal then became the 1^st Indian to break into the top 10 of the WISPA (Women’s International Squash Players Association) world rankings.

4. Two more (her 6^th & 7^th) WISPA Titles in 2013:

5. Commonwealth Gold In 2014

The fifth-seeded Indian pair of Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal Created History by winning the 1^st ever CWG Squash Gold for India.

6. Texas Open 2014 – Runner-up:

7. Two more (her 8^th & 9^th) WISPA Titles in 2014:

8. 10^th WISPA Title in 2015:

9. Granite Open 2015 – Runner-up:

10. Victoria Open 2016 – Runner-up:

11. 11^th WISPA Title:

12. In Asian Games

13. Commonwealth Games 2018, Gold Coast,

     Australia

Dipika Pallikal Squash Journey (2001-2010):