The All India Pickleball Association (AIPA) has announced that a 32-member Indian junior contingent will compete in the Asian Junior Pickleball Championship in Vietnam from July 13 to 16. The team, featuring athletes from various states and competing in Under-12 to Under-18 categories, represents a significant milestone in India’s growing presence in international pickleball. AIPA held a flag-off ceremony to honor the young players, who include notable talents such as Arav Surve, Adiya Vinod, and Jigar Vishwakarma.
AIPA leaders expressed pride in the team’s dedication and the sport’s rapid development in India. President Arvind Prabhoo highlighted the association’s focus on nurturing young talent to establish India on the global pickleball stage, while founder Sunil Valavalkar emphasized the youth as the future of the sport. Over recent years, AIPA has boosted pickleball’s popularity nationwide, notably hosting the 2024 World Pickleball Championship Series in Mumbai, where India won 28 medals, including 11 golds.
