India’s Picklers Stamp Class in Recent Asian Tourneys, Show Continuing Emergence in Pickleball
India reaffirmed its status as a burgeoning pickleball powerhouse in Asia with its top players and young picklers winning several medals in three banner tournaments: the Grand Rally International Tournament and WPC Grand Slam held in Malaysia and the Asian Pickleball University Championship played in Da Nang, Vietnam.
India’s Top Players Flash Fine Form
Sonu Kumar Vishwakarma and Tejas Mahajan were the undisputed big winners over the past two weeks as they secured multiple medals, with the former bringing honour to India in two high-level competitions. First, Vishwakarma proved to be one of the best players in the Grand Rally International Tournament 2025 in Malaysia as he won the gold medal in Open Men’s Singles and added a bronze medal in Open Men’s Doubles.
Vishwakarma then flashed the same fine form in the recently concluded WPC Grand Slam Malaysia, where he added another gold medal in Open Men’s Singles. That put Vishwakarma’s medal tally at three in just three weeks of action. His compatriot, Kuldip Mahajan, bagged bronze in the same category.
Mahajan, on the other hand, excelled in the Grand Rally International Tournament 2025 in Malaysia as well, winning gold in Men’s Doubles, taking silver in Men’s Singles, and also playing a crucial role in securing gold in the Team Event.
India’s Young Picklers with a Take Over
Indian players also left an indelible mark at the Asian Pickleball University Championship (APUC) that was recently held in Da Nang, Vietnam. India’s top collegiate players took home three medals in this tournament specifically organised to give Asia’s young pickleball players a platform for high-level competition.
Among India’s standouts in the APUC were the impressionable duo of Vrushali Thakare and Anuja Maheshwari, who secured a silver medal in Women’s Doubles after showcasing excellent coordination and resilience. Thakare then teamed up with Vanshik Kapadia to win the gold in Mixed Doubles, while Maheshwari paired off with Mayur Patil to earn a bronze medal in Mixed Doubles.
In all, India’s pickleball players bagged 10 medals—5 gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze—in three high-level tournaments. These results underscore India’s growing presence in the pickleball landscape and rising level of play of the country’s picklers.
