Day 1 of the Indian Pickleball Nationals 2025 showcased thrilling action across various age groups, establishing an energetic atmosphere for the championship. Karnataka started strong on home ground, achieving significant victories in both the 30+ Men’s and 30+ Women’s Team Finals. In the 30+ Men’s category, Karnataka triumphed over Delhi with solid performances, winning singles 21-16 and doubles 21-17. Karnataka maintained its dominance in the 30+ Women’s Finals, defeating Maharashtra by securing the singles 21-15 and the doubles 21-17, as reported in a press release. Other notable matches in the 30+ Men’s division included West Bengal narrowly defeating Rajasthan in two closely-fought singles matchups, while Rajasthan claimed a decisive doubles victory with a score of 21-06.
In the 40+ Men’s Team Finals, Telangana stood out as the top performer of the category, decisively beating Karnataka in both singles 21-08 and doubles 21-07. The junior categories also featured several high-quality matches. Maharashtra established its dominance in the U-16 Girls Finals, winning both singles 21-18 and doubles 21-14 against Assam. Gujarat delivered one of the day’s most impressive displays in the U-18 Boys Finals, clinching the singles 21-20 in a nail-biting finish and the doubles 21-11 over Maharashtra. These competitive encounters marked the historic Indian Pickleball Nationals 2025, powered by Sabala, at The Sports School in Bengaluru.
Organized by the Karnataka Pickleball Association (KPA) under the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA), this is the first National Championship since pickleball received official recognition from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. The opening ceremony featured notable guests, including Gunaranjan Shetty, President of the Karnataka Wrestling Association; R. Sampath Raj, former Mayor of Bengaluru; and Suryaveer Singh, President of the IPA, highlighting the sport’s increasing prominence in India. With over 1,200 entries from more than 20 states and 17 modern courts facilitating continuous play, the Nationals has assembled one of the largest and most varied groups of players the sport has witnessed in the country, the press release indicated.
The atmosphere at The Sports School remained vibrant throughout the day as athletes, spectators, and officials celebrated the start of what is expected to be a landmark edition for Indian pickleball. Day 1 not only displayed outstanding performances but also reinforced Karnataka’s rising status in the sport, laying an inspiring groundwork for the upcoming days of competition.