Joshna, Dipika lash out on referees

Post the match, Dipika Pallikal Karthik lashed out on the standard of referring. “The players are improving the game but the referees seem to have no clue of what is happening on the court. A lot of people would say the same too. I didn’t react as much as I would have loved to,” Dipika said.

Joshna Chinappa wasn’t behind in criticising the referees. In the third game, Joshna opened the glass court door and called the referee a cheat. “I did say he was a cheat. I apologised to the referee as well. In the third game, the ball was down and she actually walked off, but I played the ball because the referee didn't call it. And the last point was a stroke as well to me. And the referee gave it as a let. Both the points were mine. That's why I told the referee he was cheating. I later apologised to him and he understood because he knew he had got it wrong. I don't talk to the referee unless I'm absolutely right,” Joshna explained.

The Asian Championship winner said she doesn’t have to worry about referring so much as she is on the professional tour most of the times. “I play on the professional tour more than I play in the Asian Championship, which is only once every two years. I tried to play a game where I didn't need to involve the referees that much. Well, that's what I tried in the last two games,” she added.

Joshna said the win ranks as one of the best in her career. “The key was to be aggressive. This is definitely the most special win against Dipika as it comes in the final of one of the biggest events. It's always special playing against her. It's not going to be the last time I will be playing against her,” she said.

Dipika credited Joshna for the win. “I thought she just played well. I didn’t step up in the fourth and the fifth game. She started attacking. I think she played really well to have won,” she added.

Dipika added winning and losing was a part and parcel of sports. “It is just another tournament. My biggest aim is the rankings and winning the PSA events. If I lost today, I lost today. I go back home, relax for the next four months and get back,” she concluded.