IPA Nationals 2025: Maharashtra Shines as Juniors and Masters Excel
What's the Score?
The IPA Nationals 2025, India’s inaugural PWR2000 World Ranking Event, concluded at The Sports School in Kanakapura/Bengaluru, delivering high-intensity competition across all age groups and establishing a new focus on sustainability. Maharashtra dominated the marquee Open Singles titles, with Arjun Singh capturing the Men’s crown (15–6) and Mihika Yadav clinching the Women’s crown (15–4). Host state Karnataka asserted its influence in the Master’s categories, securing Women’s 40+ Team and Women's 30+ Doubles titles. Simultaneously, a new generation of junior talent shone brightly, particularly on Children’s Day, with the entire event serving as the official pathway for ten Indian players to earn selection for the US Open 2026.
Hit it deeper!
The IPA Nationals 2025, sanctioned by the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) and recognized as the official National Sports Federation Ranking for India, brought together the nation’s strongest field of players, ranging from the U12 category up to the 60+ divisions.
In the Open Singles divisions, the state of Maharashtra proved its dominance. Arjun Singh produced a commanding performance in the Men’s final, utilizing his "trademark power and precision" to defeat Gujarat's Aman Patel 15–6. For the women, Mihika Yadav secured her maiden Open Women’s Singles title by prevailing over fellow Maharashtrian Aaliya Ebrahim 15–4. Yadav, who entered the Nationals fresh off winning a landmark bronze medal at the Pickleball World Cup in Florida, controlled the final, racing to an 11–2 lead early on.
The Master's and Doubles categories featured fierce contests, with host state Karnataka performing exceptionally well. The trio of Umme Salma, Neha Arora N, and Shilpa Sham secured the 40+ Women’s Team title with a 2-0 win over Telangana. Neha Arora, a former advanced-level badminton and tennis player, expressed excitement over being the first winners of the 40+ women’s title in this government-recognized edition of the Nationals. Karnataka’s golden run continued in the doubles events, as Sharmada Balu and Prerana Pratap clinched the Women’s Doubles 30+ title with a hard-fought 15–12 victory over a combined team from West Bengal and Maharashtra. Meanwhile, Maharashtra secured the 30+ Men’s Doubles crown as Pranav and Anay Patil defeated Telangana’s Nikhil and Sreekar in a narrow 15–14 final, winning the decisive point after Telangana had fought back to level the score at 14-14. Telangana did claim gold in the 40+ Men’s Doubles, where Siddharth Reddy delivered a composed and tactical performance to defeat Sreekar 15–7.
The Junior Categories showcased the future of Indian pickleball, with intense matches across the board. On Children's Day, Trilok Sundaresan captured the Under-12 Boys title with a dominant 15–6 win over Veer Chung. In the U-14 Boys Singles, Gujarat’s Veer Shah defeated state-mate Panth Thakkar 15–9 in a spirited final marked by exemplary sportsmanship, with Shah, a Pickleball World Cup bronze medallist, acknowledging Thakkar's stunning backhand shot. Tamil Nadu’s Maanasi Karthik clinched the U-14 Girls Singles final 15–7 over Karnataka’s Joanna, overcoming a fierce comeback by Joanna who saved five game points. Youth success was evident in doubles, too: the mixed Gujarat-Delhi duo of Kiaan Contractor and Aariv Raj Khanna won the U16 Boys Doubles final 15–8 over Safwan Abdul Rahman and Harish from Tamil Nadu. In the U-12 Mixed Doubles, eight-year-old Veer Chung and 12-year-old Praathnaa Motiani (both from Maharashtra) defeated Rajveer and Aayra Khanna 15–7, showcasing exceptional agility and strategic awareness.
Chief National Coach Dhiren Patel praised the rising competitive maturity, noting the influx of former tennis and badminton players. Patel, a US Open gold winner, emphasized the transformative nature of the Nationals, as it leads to the selection of 10 Indian players for the US Open 2026. He called this a "big, big opportunity" that will inspire those selected and push those not selected to work harder for the next cycle.
In addition to the competitive successes, the tournament was lauded as India’s "Greenest Pickleball Gathering". Organizers focused on sustainability by laying down 16 durable acrylic courts on site to avoid the transportation and fuel costs associated with moving temporary mats, calling this "the biggest single movement" they enacted. The event was also run entirely paperless through digital scheduling and scorekeeping. Choosing the venue outside the city, nestled among hills and farmlands, minimized sound pollution concerns often associated with the sport and ensured a serene environment for players.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The IPA Nationals 2025 is a defining moment for Indian pickleball, successfully merging elite competition with forward-thinking infrastructure and sustainability. By establishing the PWR2000 World Ranking Event as the official national ranking system and providing a direct pathway to major global events like the US Open 2026, the IPA is systematically professionalizing the sport and fueling a palpable "hunger" for competition, as noted by Chief National Coach Dhiren Patel. The dominance of states like Maharashtra and Karnataka, the exemplary performance of crossover athletes, and the depth of talent displayed by the U12 and U14 champions collectively affirm that India is not just embracing pickleball, but is actively cultivating a confident, technically aware, and globally competitive ecosystem. Furthermore, the conscious decision to minimize carbon footprint and address noise pollution issues—challenges faced by the sport worldwide—positions the IPA Nationals as a model for how major sporting events can grow responsibly while remaining deeply connected to their local environment.