Dipika Pallikal becomes first Indian to break into top 10

Squash ace Dipika Pallikal on Saturday became the first Indian to break into the top 10 of the world rankings.

Pallikal jumped three places to be ranked 10th by Women's International Squash Players Association (WISPA) with 5175.75 points. 

She was also the first Indian women to break into the top 20 in the WSA rankings.

Three WISPA tour titles in 2011 saw her attain a career best ranking of 13.

A year ago, the 21-year-old from Chennai was ranked 17. 

Her next target is to better her rankings break into the top-five. 

Pallikal is coached by six-time world champion Sarah Fitzgerald of Australia. 

India's Joshana Chinappa also jumped a place to 31 in the year-end rankings. 

Dipika has won the German Open, Dutch Open, French Open, Australian Open, Scottish Open on the European Junior Squash Circuit. 

She clinched her first of three 2011 WISPA titles in September by winning the Orange County Open in Irvine, California. She notched up her second in the United States with another WISPA tour event victory. The third came in Hong Kong in the Crocodile Challenge Cup in December. 

However, it was her performance in the World Open that shot her into the limelight. She finished in the top eight there.

Earlier this year, she was conferred with the Arjuna Award.