Commonwealth Games 2014: Dipika Pallikal and Joshna Chinappa win gold in squash women's doubles

Dipika Pallikal (L) and Joshna Chinappa

Dipika Pallikal and Joshna Chinappa scripted history at the Scotstoun Campus Squash centre as they beat the English pair of Jenny Duncalf and Laura Massaro to claim India's first ever gold medal in squash at the Commonwealth Games.

The Indian pair started positively as they dominated the early stages of the game. They eventually took the first game 11-6.

The Indian team were cheered on by Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik, who is engaged to Pallikal.

England stormed back into the match in the second game as they took a 7-2 lead at one point. But Joshna and Dipika upped the ante as they conceded just one more point to the English team in the remainder of the game. They won 11-8, and with it the match.

The 22-year-old Pallikal has been earmarked for great things since a long time. In 2012, she became the first Indian Indian woman to break into the top 10 of the world squash singles rankings, and she has hovered around the top of the game ever since then.

Chinappa, on the other hand, was also considered a very promising talent when she first burst on to the scene, but injuries and indifferent form have put stumbling blocks in her career lately. This win could reinvigorate the 27-year-old though, and she may well go on to match her doubles partner’s accomplishments in singles as well.

The No. 5 seeded Indian pair had earlier made headlines by beating the World No. 1 pair of Nicol David and Low Wee Wern.