The
four-event Women's JSW WSA Indian Squash Challenger Circuit came
to an appropriate close today in Chennai when Indian squash star
Dipika Pallikal claimed her second title, winning the WSA Tour
10 Event No4 at the Indian Squash Academy.
Top
seed Pallikal, the world No12 from Chennai, faced second seed Misaki
Kobayashi in the final. The highest-ranked Japanese player of
all-time, ranked 27 places lower, reached the climax without dropping a
game.
The
local star set a fast pace and kept up the pressure to elicit errors
from Kobayashi. The Tokyo-born 24-year-old held her own in the third
game - but Pallikal broke away midway through the game to close out the
match 11-6, 11-2, 11-8 after 35 minutes.
"It
was a good win for me," said Pallikal after picking up the ninth WSA
World Tour title of her career. "This is my second title of the year
and to play in front of family and friends is always nice.
"I'm
happy with my squash this week and hope to carry on my form to Monte
Carlo next week."
India's first professional squash circuit brought 108 players together,
competing in four tournaments across three cities.
Picture courtesy of Nitesh Square
"This
circuit is one of our key sponsorships," said Gopul Hosur, Vice
President of Corporate Relations for the JSW Group and the
tournament's chief guest (pictured above flanked by Pallikal and
men's champion Harinder Pal Sandhu).
"We've
found the response has been tremendous. In years to come, we hope to
keep increasing our promotion of squash," added Hosur.
