Twitter users congratulate Dipika Pallikal for defeating Joshna Chinappa, but many have no clue it's her birthday

Indian squash player Dipika Pallikal defeated her doubles partner Joshna Chinappa on the second day of the Asian Games in Incheon on Sunday, to assure India of a medal. Following this, many Twitter users congratulated and praised her. However, not everyone knew that it was Pallikal's 23rd birthday too!

Here come the congratulations:

Congratulation @DipikaPallikal on reaching the semi at #Incheon2014 must have been the toughest 101 min for you and @joshnachinappa

— Himanshu Chudasama (@chudasama71) September 21, 2014

And another, but no mention of Happy Birthday yet:

@DipikaPallikal Congrts Dipika..Yr timeless efforts proved in result..U made India Proud..I know media will leave u in one day but we don't.

— Priyanshu (@priyanshu070711) September 21, 2014

And again:

@DipikaPallikal congrats in advance waiting for the final results..Thanks for making us all proud #AsianGames2014

— Biswajeet Dash (@biswajeetdash) September 21, 2014

Yet again. This is getting annoying now.

@DipikaPallikal you rocked and entred in the semifinal of #AsianGames2014 at least a bronze medal..but we want gold ,,best of luck

— Gatish kumar jena (@GatishJena) September 21, 2014

Oh, finally there is someone who knows it's Dipika's birthday, and knows her Twitter handle too:

@DipikaPallikal Happy Birthday pic.twitter.com/Y2b3KuQDYR

— Reeme Mansi (@reemyone) September 21, 2014

Here's another user who knows, and he's even tagged her fiance Dinesh Karthik:

Bday girl done it"@DineshKarthik: “@indiasquash: @DipikaPallikal wins in a marathon @joshnachinappa pic.twitter.com/1SmWtjdMH2” amazing match.

— ?????? ???????? (@smanojshere) September 21, 2014

I become happier as I read this:

@DipikaPallikal Happy Birthday to you ! ????May god bless you with joy and happiness ??????

— Akhila_♥? (@imakhila_4) September 21, 2014

Dipika is the first Indian woman to break into the top 10 of the Women's Squash World Rankings. She won her sixth WSA title by winning the Meadowood Pharmacy Open in February 2013. In the 20th Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow in 2014, Dipika, along with Joshna Chinappa won the gold medal in the squash women's doubles event.

What is interesting and revealing is that Kareena Kapoor, who shares her birthday with Dipika Pallikal, is trending on Twitter for no other reason than that it is her birthday.

Also, it's true and sad that only cricket continues to capture the imagination of the Indian fan yet. From MS Dhoni to ex-cricketers, everyone trends on Twitter for the smallest of reasons. On Friday, Dipika Pallikal won at the Asian Games, assured India of a medal and celebrated her 24th birthday. All these things together weren't enough to get her amongst the top trends in India. It is a testament to the Indian fan's lack of interest in sports other than cricket. This lack of interest has been exacerbated by successive governments' apathy to other sports. We hope that Indian sportspersons get better recognition in the days to come.