India Wins Asia Pickleball Games 2023, A New Era For Pickleball In India
Our Indian athletes have done us proud at the Asia Pickleball Games 2023. They faced tough competitors but came out shining with multiple Gold and Silver medals.
The Indian team was led by Arvind Prabhoo. He’s not just a player; he also heads international and national pickleball bodies. The games had events for different age groups, and both men and women competed.
Our young champ, Aditya Ruhela, won Gold in the 16+ Men’s Singles. Then there’s Vishal Jadhav, who also bagged Gold in the 35+ Men’s Singles. And let’s not forget Thakurdas Rohira who fought hard and clinched Silver in the 50+ Men’s Singles. Our doubles teams also did brilliantly, scooping up more medals.
Now, you might be asking, “What the heck is Pickleball?” Good question! It’s a mix of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. You play it with paddles and a plastic ball full of holes. It can be played indoors or outdoors. This sport began in the U.S. in the ’60s but has seen a recent surge in popularity. Even celebs like Bill Gates and Leonardo DiCaprio are playing it.
The sport is also catching on in India. A guy named Sunil Valvalkar is credited with bringing it here. Now, the sport has spread to 16 Indian states with around 3,000 registered players.
Also Read: India’s Best Ever Performance At Asian Games 2023 In The Last 60 Years
Our athletes are bursting with talent. They’re proving that given the right support, they can excel in not just popular sports but also in emerging ones like Pickleball. It’s high time that the government and we, the people, give them the backing they deserve. If we do that, the sky’s the limit.
So, India is making its mark, not just in mainstream sports but also in newer, exciting games like Pickleball. Let’s keep the cheer going and support our athletes in every way we can.
