Dipika Pallikal may consider pulling out of the Incheon Asian Games after she was drawn in the same half as Joshna Chinappa in the women’s singles section. The 2014 Commonwealth Games doubles gold medallists stand to meet each other in the quarterfinals.
“I’ve said this before — I don’t think this is a coincidence. This has happened for the third Asian Games in a row. I have already written to our federation to appeal against the manipulated draw but I am yet to get a reply,” said Dipika after an ‘adidas Masterclass’ session with youngsters in the city.
At the 2006 Doha Games, Saurav Ghoshal met Ritwik Bhattacharya in the quarters. Four years later, the former played Siddharth Suchde.
The World Squash Federation rules clearly state that “optimum separation of players of the same nationality to be used, e.g. Drawn in different halves of the draw and, if more than two competitors from the same nation, different quarters. Where players are drawn into the same section of a draw they shall be kept apart as far as possible.”
Having only two entrants in the single draw from the country, Dipika is bothered by the face that the rules haven’t been followed.
“It is a bit disheartening. We just won India’s first gold at the Commonwealth Games. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that my message goes through to the ‘people’ who know this. I hope the draw can be changed. It’s a sad affair.”
