Dipika walks to the Egyptian

8220;It8217;s the best club in Egypt and it8217;s famous world over. I8217;m very happy to be associated with them and looking forward to playing in the league there. I8217;ve been signed as their second player after Rachel Grinham, the World No 2

All has not been well between the country8217;s No 2 woman squash player Dipika Pallikal and the authorities at the Chennai-based ICL Academy where she trains. The officials at the Academy are upset with the teenager as she went public about her disappointment of them not informing her that she was not travelling to Doha for the Asian Games. Dipika has since then mostly been in Egypt training under renowned coach Amir Wagih. And now, she is all set to shift base to Egypt and will turn out for the 8220;best club8221; in the leagues there.

Dipika, whose contract with the Chennai Academy expires on December 31, said she was excited to represent the Heliopolis Club from next season. 8220;It8217;s the best club in Egypt and it8217;s famous world over. I8217;m very happy to be associated with them and looking forward to playing in the league there. I8217;ve been signed as their second player after the world No 2 Rachel Grinham,8221; she said.

The Chennai girl who returned home from Cairo yesterday to appear for her exams will be flying back again on December 15 to prepare for the prestigious British Open. And, overseeing her preparations will be her new coach Md Hafiz, himself a former top-20 player in the world.

Dipika said the training stints in Egypt have raised her game to 8220;another level8221; and that she is confident of doing well at the British Open this month-end and the Asian juniors in Hong Kong in February. 8220;The British Open is very important for me since it will be my first tournament in the U-17 circuit. As for the Asian juniors U-17, I hope I can add another title after the Asian U-15 win in Singapore earlier this year,8221; the 15-year-old said.

Besides a new coach, Dipika will a strong of support staff at the British Open. Her trainer Shankar Basu works with the country8217;s top ranked woman squash player Joshna Chinappa, besides top cricketers like Lakshmipathy Balaji and Dinesh Kaarthick. A dietician and a psychologist will also travel with her for the tournament.