✦ Celebrity stories, facts and career updates. Explore F4U now →

Home › Biography › Dipika Pallikal (Dinesh Karthik's

Dipika Pallikal (Dinesh Karthik's biographyFeatured Biography

Image source: StarsUnfolded

Celebrities

Dipika Pallikal (Dinesh Karthik's Biography: Age, Career, Family and M

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth21 September 1991

Age33 Years

BirthplaceKottayam, Kerala, India

ProfessionSquash Player, Model, Entrepreneur, Designer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseDinesh Karthik

FamilyMother: Susan Itticheria; Father: Sanjiv Pallikal; Sisters: Divya and Dia

Dipika Pallikal (Dinesh Karthik's Biography

Indian squash player, model and entrepreneur who made history for India in international squash rankings, is a Padma Shri and Arjuna Awardee, and a multi‑G

Early life and background
Dipika Rebecca Pallikal was born on 21 September 1991 in Kottayam, Kerala. Raised in a Malayali Christian family, she grew up with strong sporting influences: her mother played international cricket for India and captained the women’s team. Dipika attended Good Shepherd Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Chennai and later studied at Ethiraj College for Women, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in English (Honours) in 2013.

She picked up squash at the age of ten and played her first international tournament while still in school. Early exposure to junior international competition on the European circuit helped her develop rapidly; by age 15 she had turned professional and began the long climb on the world tour.

Career
Dipika has built a distinguished career as one of India’s leading squash players. She broke new ground for Indian women in the sport by entering the top 10 of the Professional Squash Association women’s rankings in December 2012, the first Indian woman to do so. That breakthrough followed several notable results: reaching the final of a silver-level event at the Tournament of Champions in New York and reaching the semi-final of the Australian Open, a gold-level event, in 2012.

Her professional trophy cabinet includes multiple PSA/WSA tour titles won across cities such as Irvine (Orange County Open), Hong Kong (Crocodile Challenge Cup), Macau, Meadowood and the Winnipeg Winter Club Open. At major multi-sport events she has contributed to India’s medal tally repeatedly: a Commonwealth Games gold in women’s doubles in 2014 alongside Joshna Chinappa; Asian Games and World Doubles medals across editions from 2014 through 2023; and team and mixed-doubles podiums at the Commonwealth and Asian Games.

Dipika’s success earned national recognition. She became the first female squash player to receive the Arjuna Award in 2013 and was later honoured with the Padma Shri in 2015. She has also used her profile to press for change: from 2012 to 2015 she refused to take part in the National Squash Championship to protest unequal prize money for women; she returned to the event after prize equality was implemented in 2016.

Beyond competition, Dipika has maintained a presence as a model and brand ambassador. She has walked at Lakme Fashion Week, represented jewellery and sports e-commerce brands, appeared on magazine covers, and regularly promotes products on social media. She is also involved in design work at Studio Twenty-One Twelve and lists baking among her skills and hobbies.

Public profile
Dipika stands around 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) and plays right-handed, often using a Technifibre racquet. She is known for prioritizing fitness and shares training and lifestyle posts online. Her public image blends athletic achievement with fashion and commercial work: she has modelled for established labels, appeared on magazine covers, and served as a brand ambassador for online retailers.

Her off-court life has included legal actions related to services and endorsements. She successfully pursued a consumer complaint against a bank that resulted in compensation, and later won an arbitration claim connected with a brand endorsement contract.

Personal life
Dipika married Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik in August 2015, with ceremonies held under Christian and Hindu rituals in Chennai. The couple have two sons. She keeps dogs as pets and often shares moments with them on social media. Hobbies she lists publicly include baking, cooking, swimming, travelling and dancing.

Latest updates
Dipika continued to add to her medal haul in recent years: she won multiple medals at the 2022 World Doubles Championships and the 2022 Asian Games, and in 2023 she won the Asian Squash mixed-doubles title with Harinderpal Singh Sandhu. Her competitive presence remains active across doubles, mixed doubles and team events.

She continues to combine competitive squash with commercial and creative pursuits, maintaining a visible role in Indian sport and lifestyle circles.
◈

Recent Work

Asian Games mixed doubles gold (with Harinderpal Singh Sandhu)

Won the mixed doubles gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

2023
2022 World Doubles Championships

Won gold medals in doubles and mixed doubles at the World Doubles Championships in Glasgow and a team bronze and mixed-doubles gold at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.

2022
Commonwealth Games 2014

Won the women’s doubles gold medal with Joshna Chinappa at Glasgow 2014.

2014
✦

Career Highlights

  1. First Indian woman to break into the PSA women’s world top 10 (December 2012)
  2. First female squash player to receive the Arjuna Award (2013)
  3. Padma Shri recipient (2015)
  4. Commonwealth Games women’s doubles gold medalist (2014)
?

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Dipika Pallikal (Dinesh Karthik's born?

21 September 1991

What is Dipika Pallikal (Dinesh Karthik's known for?

Squash Player, Model, Entrepreneur, Designer

What is Dipika Pallikal (Dinesh Karthik's’s marital status?

Married

Who is Dipika Pallikal (Dinesh Karthik's married to?

Dinesh Karthik