Dipika Pallikal in World Junior Individual Squash Quarters
Dipika Pallikal and Anaka Alankamony from India joined 4 Egyptians and 2 girls from USA in the quarterfinals at the World Junior Women’s Individual Squash Championships in Cologne, Germany. This is the first time ever 2 Indians will feature in the quarterfinals at the World Championship.
Anaka was the first to enter the quarters after her clinical display against a determined Catalina Pelaez from Colombia. Although it was a straight game win Anaka was drawn into many grueling rallies where Catalina retrieved some amazing balls diving around the court. Anaka kept her cool and despite being down in both the first and third game played some delightful volleys and drops and often wrong footed Catalina with her cross court drives. In the end, Anaka proved to be too consistent for her senior opponent.
Dipika trailed 0-5 in the first game to level scores and take the game to the tie breaker against Salma Hany from Egypt. The hard drive and boast was used extensively by both players throughout the match, each trying to out hit each other. Although Dipika made errors on her boast she proved her superiority with her lethal drives to win the crucial first game and the match in straight games to shrug off her defeat earlier this year at the British Juniors.
Its was a perfect day for the Indians’ as Aparajitha and Anwesha playing off for positions won their respective matches in straight games to confirm they would be ranked top 24.The results (pre-quarterfinals)(2) Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt (9/16) Salma Hany (EGY) 12-10, 11-8, 11-8(8) Anaka Alankamony (IND) bt (9/16) Catalina Pelaez (COL) 11-8, 11-8, 11-7(play off)Aparajitha Balamurukan (IND) bt Amalie Bornaes (DEN) 11-1, 11-4, 11-2Anwesha Reddy (IND) bt Oxane Ah-Hu (FRA) 11-5, 11-3, 11-7
