IPA to hold junior trials for Pickleball World Cup from June 12 in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad, May 21
The Indian Pickleball Association will conduct trials for the Indian Sub-Junior and Junior teams for the upcoming Pickleball World Cup from June 12 to 14.
The three-day trials in Ahmedabad will determine the junior squad for the third edition of the Pickleball World Cup, sanctioned by the Global Pickleball Federation, which will be held in Vietnam from August 30 to September 9.
Over 100 players from across the country, including Delhi, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Assam, Rajasthan, Odisha, Haryana, and Gujarat, are competing for a chance to represent India in the U14 and U18 categories at the World Cup. The selection committee for the trials include Aalap Sharma, Dhiren Patel, Mohit Kumar, Atul Edward and IPA CEO, Aditya Khanna.
"The Junior squad for the Indian Pickleball contingent is extremely vital as it determines the players that will represent India on the global stage for many years to come. These are the players who will potentially one day compete at the major global events once pickleball officially enters those events as well. The World Cup is the perfect starting point for the young talent across India to showcase their skills or compete alongside the best junior talent in the world," Suryaveer Singh Bhullar, President, Indian Pickleball Association, said in a statement.
Notable names that will be part of the trials include Arjun Singh, who recently won 3 medals at the US Open in both singles and doubles. Naomi Amalsadiwala, one of India's rising stars in the open category as well; Panth Thakkar, who won bronze at the US Open in the doubles category, Purvansh Patel, Anoushka Chabbria, Veer Shah & Dev Shah are amongst other names will be competing for the spot in the Indian team.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally, some focus on junior sports beyond cricket. Pickleball might be new here but the talents like Arjun Singh winning medals at US Open shows we have potential. Let's hope the association conducts these trials fairly and gives opportunities to kids from smaller cities too. Kudos to IPA for organizing this in Ahmedabad! 👏
I'm a bit skeptical about how serious the selection process will be. The mention of only 100 players from limited states suggests the sport is still niche. Also, the selection committee seems small for a national-level trial. Hope they have proper judging criteria and not just connections. Still, good step forward for pickleball in India. Let's wait and watch.
My nephew recently started playing pickleball in his school in Delhi. The infrastructure is coming up—many parks now have dedicated courts. It's good that IPA is investing in junior development. Remember, China and US are already strong in this sport. We need more exposure for our kids. World Cup in Vietnam will be a great learning experience! 🇮🇳🚀
As a pickleball enthusiast from the US who moved to India recently, it's exciting to see the sport take root here. The junior talent is raw but promising. The US Open results show Indian kids can compete. I hope the IPA focuses on coaching quality too, not just trials. Looking forward to seeing India at the World Cup!
This is wonderful for young athletes! My daughter plays tennis but we are considering pickleball too because it's easier on the joints and quick to learn. The fact that kids from states like Assam and Odisha are participating shows how widespread interest is growing. Let
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