Dipika wins under-17 Nordic Junior Open title

Chennai, Oct 5 (UNI) India number two Dipika Pallikal crowned herself with glory winning the under-17 title in the Nordic Junior Open, a European squash federation super series event, at Malmo in Sweden.

In the final, she defeated the second-seeded Scottish opponent Robyn Hodgson 9-0, 9-2, 9-0.

The Chennai school girl, who plays in the professional circuit, WISPA tournaments, was seeded fourth in the tournament.

Given a bye in the first round, Dipika made steady progress from there, not losing even a game.

The Indian beat Eira Mooney of Sweden 9-0, 9-0, 9-1 in the second round and then defeated sixth seed Carrie Ramsey (England) 9-6, 9-3, 9-4 in the quarterfinals.

In the semifinals, Dipika accounted for fifth seed Sarah Barnes (France) 9-2, 9-5, 9-4, before capping a title triumph in the finals, reports received here said.

With this win, the young squash sensation became the only Indian to have won all the European super series events--the French, German, Dutch, Pioneer and Belgian.

UNI