India win two gold at World doubles squash

Dipika Pallikal may have been off the sport for over three years but the 30-year-old returned to competitive squash in style as she played a part in India winning two gold medals --- their first-ever --- at the PSA World doubles championships at the Scotstoun Leisure Centre in Glasgow on Saturday. Dipika first teamed up with Saurav Ghosal to pocket the mixed doubles gold defeating the English pair --- Adrian Waller and Alison Waters 11-6, 11-8. Dipika subsequently joined hands with Joshna Chinappa in the women's doubles final to get the better of England's Sarah-Jane Perry and Alison Waters 11-9, 4-11, 11-8.

It was a sweet revenge for Joshna and Dipika who had gone down to Sarah and Alison during their group stages encounter. "We wanted to come out with a good solid plan in the final since they had beaten us a few days ago. It was a tough match and it feels great to come out as winners," Joshna said after the match.

Dipika felt the final could have gone either way. "We were able to stick to our basics and strengths, and happy to have crossed the line. Since I was returning to competitive squash after three years, I didn't really expect a lot from this tournament, but I am just happy to be here," Dipika, who gave birth to twins last year, told the tournament organisers after the match.

The women's doubles final may have been a hard-fought affair but the mixed doubles' title encounter earlier in the day certainly wasn't. Saurav and Dipika got into the groove from the word go and closed out the contest in 22 minutes. "We have come close before (in the world doubles championships), but this time we went the distance.