Chennai: The highest world-ranked squash player in India, Dipika Pallikal is not part of the national team for the World Women's Team Championship to be held in Canada from December 1 to 6.
The ace player has decided to opt out and subsequently informed the National Coach Cyrus Poncha through email.
Poncha had sought the availability of all those players who had served the national team with distinction in the Asian Games for the World championship selection trials.
But reportedly, as all the other players responded via emails Dipika chose to stay quiet.
Efforts were then made to change her decision. The national coach also brought to her notice the recent advice by the Ministry of Youth Affairs that any player on his or her own volition declining to be part of the team for events like the World Championship stood to lose all government funding. Dipika however stuck to her stand that she was keeping away.
Considering the high value-addition that Dipika could have brought to the team, her absence has come at an untimely moment when squash in the country has been looking up after a series of excellent performances at the international level.
Team: Joshna Chinappa, Anaka Alankamony, Sachika Ingale and Harshit Kaur Jawanda.
