India's number one female squash player Dipika Pallikal came up with an upset win over higher-ranked Jaclyn Hawkes of New Zealand in her final qualifying match to make it to the main draw of the CIMB Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur.
Pallikal, ranked 26th in the world, defeated 17th ranked Hawkes 11-7, 9-11, 11-3, 11-7 in 51 minutes last night to book a clash against fifth seed Australian Kasey Brown in the first round of the $60,000 event.
Pallikal was always ahead of Hawkes in the first game using good variation from the front court but in the second, it was the other way around and the Kiwi was also assisted by a few tins from the Indian.
In the third and fourth game, Pallikal came up with deft touches to earn winners, which eventually sealed the issue in her favour.
She had defeated local challenger Siti Munirah in the first qualifying encounter.
The field at the prestigious Super Series event will witness best women players from the world, including world number one Nicol David of Malaysia, who is looking for her seventh title here.
