Dipika Pallikal goes down in first round of Qatar Classic

Yathreb Adel (left) and Dipika Pallikal in action at the Qatar Classic (Image courtesy: Qatar Classic)

While Indian squash fans rejoiced at Joshna Chinappa’s stunning upset of the World No. 1 Raneem El Welily, there was some disappointment in store for the Indian contingent at the $115k Qatar Classic held at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex in Doha on Saturday.

India No. 1 and World No. 19 Dipika Pallikal was not as lucky as her compatriot as she went down to the 25th ranked Yathreb Adel of Egypt in the opening round. The 13th seed lost 5-11, 7-11, 7-11 to the 19-year-old in 36 minutes.

The result deprives Indian fans of a grand opportunity to see an all-Indian clash in the second round of the Qatar Classic. Joshna will now take on Adel for a place in the quarter-finals.

The outcome is a major departure from the impressive form that Pallikal showed in her very last tournament at the US Open where she toppled the World No. 5 Alison Waters and former World No. 4 Joelle King en route to the quarters.

On the men’s side, World No. 16 Saurav Ghosal is the only Indian in the main draw. He will start his campaign against the 19th ranked Fares Dessouki of Egypt on Sunday. Earlier, Mahesh Mangaonkar had bowed out in the first qualifying round at this tournament. Mangaonkar, who was the 16th seed in qualifying, went down 14-12, 9-11, 6-11, 7-11 to Charles Sharpes of England in 68 minutes.