Off-the-court FASHIONISTA

Ace squash player Dipika Pallikal may be slaying it on court — but just like any other normal fashion-conscious youngster, needs some retail therapy to unwind!
Taking some time off her crazy schedule, the champion sportstar decided to hit one of the buzzing malls in the city — and we were there to track her ‘girl-next-door’ avatar... except that Dipika, can never be anything but special, can she?

As she hopped from one store to another indulging in the latest spring-summer trends, Dipika made it quite apparent to the ogling audience that she was second to none when it comes to fashion. This was quite apparent with the trendy and chic outfits she was sporting throughout the photoshoot! “No, not like that, part my hair towards the right,” she tells the hairstylist. Nothing would stop her from looking pitch-perfect gorgeous — she was very clear about that!
“I associate comfort with fashion — I wear what suits me and never compromised on how I feel in an ensemble,” she smiles.  

When it comes to accessories, Dipika prefers to keep it minimal — “I’m quite lazy when it comes to accessories. I don’t like wearing heavy pieces, as it would be a hindrance while playing. But even otherwise, I try not to wear too many elements as I don’t have the patience to remove them after use. The only accessory that I wear throughout, is my wedding ring,” she says with a smile.
Dipika is spellbound by the number of shopping malls that have cropped up in the city — “Earlier, the only mall known to exist was Spencer Plaza, and now the city is buzzing with so many to choose from.  When I was a kid, we used to go to Delhi or Mumbai for shopping. Now, there is nothing that Chennai doesn’t have to offer.”

Shopping is something that she cannot live without, and Dipika make sure to go on a spree while travelling. “I visit the US at least thrice a year for my tournaments, and I make sure that I find time to shop,” she adds. Ask her about dress code restrictions in squash, and she promptly says, “Shorts are not permitted while playing, but I find skirts equally comfortable. Hence I have no problem with any restrictions!”