Pune, May 31: The All India Pickleball Association’s (AIPA) grassroots development programme continued to bear fruit as its athletes produced outstanding performances at the inaugural West Zone Pickleball Championship held at Musclebar Sports Club, Undri, Pune.
The three-day championship attracted 317 players from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Goa, showcasing the rapid growth of pickleball across western India. Athletes nurtured through AIPA’s development pathway excelled across junior, open and masters categories, highlighting the success of the association’s long-term investment in talent development.
Anjali emerged as one of the standout performers of the tournament, winning five medals, including three gold medals in the U-18 Girls Singles, U-18 Girls Doubles and U-18 Mixed Doubles categories. International player Shreyas Rajaram also claimed five medals across junior and open events, while Vrushali Thakare secured gold medals in Open Women’s Doubles and Open Mixed Doubles.
The junior divisions further reflected the strength of AIPA’s grassroots structure, with young talents such as Aaradhya Satpute, Arnav Khamkar, Jay Agrawal, Aadya Vinod, Aarav Surve and Piyush Gaikwad earning podium finishes.
In the masters categories, international representatives Noah Ashtamkar, Abhijit Kelkar and Neelima Utgikar added to the medal tally, underlining the depth of talent across age groups.
AIPA President Arvind Prabhoo praised the athletes, stating that the results validate the association’s vision of creating a strong talent pipeline and reinforce the bright future of Indian pickleball.
