Manchester, Oct 16 (IANS) India's fast-rising squash sensation Dipika Pallikal has the potential to win the world junior title in Cairo next year, her coach Amir Wagih said here Thursday.
Wagih, a former top-ten player from Egypt and now serving as his country's head coach, told IANS at the sidelines of the World Open squash Championships, that he has great expectations from the 17-year-old Dipika, currently the British Under-17 champion.
'Dipika is future star of world squash,' stressed Wagih, who coaches her at his world-famous squash academy in Cairo.
'She is young, she is talented and has the charisma to be a huge star,' added Wagih, who has helped Egypt become a potent force in international squash.
Currently there are four Egyptians in the top-ten world men's rankings including the reigning world number Amr Shabana. There are also two Egyptian girls in the top-ten women's ranking. All of those players trains in Cairo with Wagih.
Dipika is one of his favourite pupils.
The Chennai-born Dipika played her first international tournament in London when she was in her sixth grade, and till date, she has won the German Open, Dutch Open, French Open, Australian Open, Scottish Open and British Junior Open titles on the European Junior Squash Circuit.
Wagin said Dipika will be in contention for the world junior crown in Cairo next year.
'Dipika is training really hard these days both on her game and her fitness,' said Wagih, who is in Manchester with a star-studded Egyptian team. 'She is very confident and I expect her to do really well in the world junior championships.'
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