JOIN US'I don't like running at all'
And the great show and diligence with which she is going ahead, she is as steadily gaining more popularity as she has been gaining points. Dipika, though not a stranger to Bangalore, was here only for a few hours and in an interview with Metrolife, spoke about her focus on the coming Commonwealth Games, her fitness regime and how she hates running.
Speaking about the City, she says, “I used to come here during summers when I was younger, to meet my cousins. But I haven’t been here in sometime now.” Understandably so since she has been busy playing for a very long time.
She played her first international tournament in London when she was all of 11 and till date, has won the German Open, Dutch Open, French Open, Australian Open and Scottish Open on the European junior squash circuit. That is a lot of accolades for the young star. “It was all a really good experience for me. And being number one is a really big thing in India,” Dipika says. “And not many people are seen in the sports circuit from India so that is great,” she adds. Talking more about the new breed of enthusiastic youngsters interested in sports she says, “I am happy that more girls are coming in from many parts of India.”
Speaking about her shift to Egypt to train full-time under the Egyptian national team coach Amir Wagih and later, under her personal coach Hafiz Mohammad Salehshe, she says, “I have been training for about three or four years with him in Egypt. Once I shifted there, I gained more confidence because I knew I was doing much better.” Talking about her priorities right now, since in the past she has dappled in modelling and was even offered a few movies, she makes her intentions very clear. “I am just improving my game and am not really concentrating on other things right now,” she says.
What about her chances of winning at the upcoming Commonwealth Games? “Be it in doubles or singles, I am hopeful about winning something at the Games.” Talking more about her fitness regime, she surprises us by showing her disinterest in exercising. “I actually don’t like running at all but well, luckily I have a coach who is always behind me with a stick,” she says. “But you know, once I start running then I really like it and all I see is the track in front of me,” she adds before leaving.