New Delhi:
India's medal prospect in squash at the ongoing Commonwealth Games suffered a major blow when promising women's singles player Dipika Pallikal on Monday pulled out of the mega-event due to a mild fever.
"She has developed a mild fever and will not participate in the singles event. We are hoping she will be ready for the women's and mixed doubles starting October 9," national coach Cyrus Poncha said.
"She is a key member of the doubles team (partnering with Joshna Chinappa). The pair is ranked second in the event and we are hoping for a medal haul from the duo. We want her to recover fully," he added.
The 19-year-old Chennai girl, who was seeded 14th in the singles event and currently ranked 33rd in the world, was expected to make the last 16 of the singles event.
Ever since the sport's introduction in the Commonwealth Games in 1998, squash has been one of the low-profile events for India.
But the host country has a good chance of winning its maiden medal in the sport with in-form trio of Saurav Ghosal, Joshna Chinappa and Pallikal making waves internationally.
"India has never won a Commonwealth Games medal. We do hope this year we will be able to change this record," said Poncha.
"She has developed a mild fever and will not participate in the singles event. We are hoping she will be ready for the women's and mixed doubles starting October 9," national coach Cyrus Poncha said.
"She is a key member of the doubles team (partnering with Joshna Chinappa). The pair is ranked second in the event and we are hoping for a medal haul from the duo. We want her to recover fully," he added.
The 19-year-old Chennai girl, who was seeded 14th in the singles event and currently ranked 33rd in the world, was expected to make the last 16 of the singles event.
Ever since the sport's introduction in the Commonwealth Games in 1998, squash has been one of the low-profile events for India.
But the host country has a good chance of winning its maiden medal in the sport with in-form trio of Saurav Ghosal, Joshna Chinappa and Pallikal making waves internationally.
"India has never won a Commonwealth Games medal. We do hope this year we will be able to change this record," said Poncha.
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