Cairo: India’s top squash player Dipika Pallikal Karthik went down against qualifier Mariam Metwally of Egypt in the first round of the Wadi Dagla Open, a PSA world tour event, here today.
Dipika squandered a two-game advantage to go down 11-5 11-9 6-11 7-11 8-11 to the Egyptian in a dramatic opening round match of the squash event which is being held alongside the men’s world championship here.
The seventh seeded Indian, who is ranked 19 in the PSA list, was surprised by the determined approach of the Egyptian player, ranked 31.
Still with two games in the kitty, Dipika seemed well on course. The change came there as a slip turned into a slide and the Egyptian made the best of the situation to carve out the win in just under an hour.
With Dipika’s exit, the Indian presence in this event ended.
PTI