India’s pickleball scene is about to make a big splash with the upcoming Indian Open 2025, set for February 3rd-9th. The event will showcase some of the country’s brightest rising stars, including those supported by the newly launched Global Sports Pickleball League. With its aim to take the sport mainstream, this league is poised to elevate pickleball to new heights in India.
India’s Rising Pickleball Stars
Several talented players are leading the charge as pickleball gains popularity in India. Among them are:
- Himanshu Dewaskar: Dominating the 35+ category, Himanshu has clinched podium finishes in major Indian tournaments and won medals for India at the USA Open Pickleball Championships 2024. (Team: Kolkata Kingz)
- Aditya Singh and Arjun Singh: The dynamic duo has been dominating the juniors category, recently taking home a gold medal at the Goa Open 2024 in the Men’s Doubles event. (Team: Chennai Cool Cats)
- Rohan Gajjar: A former top 100-ranked tennis player, Rohan has transitioned seamlessly into pickleball, bringing a wealth of professional experience to his game. (Team: Bengaluru Blazers)
- Himansh Mehta: An international medalist, Himansh won medals for India at the World Cup of Pickleball in Peru. (Team: Jaipur Jawans)
- Shraddha Damani: Consistently performing well in singles and doubles, Shraddha has earned multiple medals at tournaments across India and Vietnam, marking her as one of India’s top female players. (Team: Bengaluru Blazers)
- Priyanka Mehta: A former tennis pro and now a pickleball powerhouse, Priyanka won five medals in a single tournament, showcasing her versatility and skill. (Team: Ahmedabad Olympians)
- Tushar Singh and Ritesh Jaiswal: A unique right-hand and left-hand doubles duo, they confuse opponents with powerful forehand combinations. (Teams: Nashik Ninjas & Jaipur Jawans)
- Stavya Bhasin: A junior pro who won medals for India at the USA Open Pickleball Championships 2024, Stavya is quickly rising through the ranks. (Team: Chennai Cool Cats)
- Shenal Patil: Hailing from Jalgaon, Maharashtra, Shenal has made a name for himself by competing at the highest level, training in cities across India. (Team: Mumbai Chhatrapati Warriors)
- Veer Shah and Purvansh Patel: As junior prodigies from Ahmedabad, Veer and Purvansh have impressed on the national stage, training at Global Sports’ world-class facility. (Team: Hyderabad Vikings)
- Mihika Yadav: A tennis-to-pickleball convert, Mihika secured a silver medal for India at the WPC in Vietnam, proving her immense talent. (Team: Kolkata Kingz)
- Pearl Amalsadiwala and Naomi Amalsadiwala: These sister champions have been a dominant force in doubles, earning recognition as international contenders after their participation in the English Open 2024. (Team: Jaipur Jawans)
- Vishal Jadhav: A police officer and a top-ranked 35+ player, Vishal excels in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. (Team: Jaipur Jawans)
Global Sports Pickleball League
The Indian Open 2025 isn’t just about showcasing talent—it marks the beginning of the Global Sports Pickleball League, a major initiative to grow the sport across the country. The league’s goals include:
- Promoting pickleball as a mainstream sport.
- Developing young talent and nurturing future champions.
- Building a thriving pickleball community.
With 10 teams from major cities, supported by celebrity owners and sports visionaries, the league is set to push pickleball into the spotlight in India.
Team Lineups
The league’s teams feature a mix of seasoned professionals and rising stars, with players like Callan Dawson (Nashik Ninjas) and Amanda Rosati (Jaipur Jawans) leading their respective teams. Here are the teams and their players:
Nashik Ninjas
- Pro Players: Callan Dawson, Shelby Bates, Sarah Burr, Rj Anion, Aline Morales, Len Yang
- Challenger Players: Oliver Gray, Hercilio Cabisese, Tushar Singh, Sharmada Alu, Nitten Kirrtane
Jaipur Jawans
- Pro Players: Amanda Rosati, Himansh Mehta, Arielle Butler, Richard Livornese Jr, Pearl Amalsadiwala, Naomi Amalsadiwala
- Challenger Players: Hannah O’Kelley, Prycen Haas, Ritesh Jaiswal, Vishal Jadhav, Nishay Nichani
Hyderabad Vikings
- Pro Players: Zachary Parks, Santhosh Narayanan, Ronan Jack Camron, Kao Pei Chuan, Amber Policare, Ronav Motiani
- Challenger Players: Purvansh Patel, Kashyap Baranwal, Kelly Bohnert, Rahul Belwal, Pv Spandan
Delhi Snipers
- Pro Players: Jamie Haas, Leah Tauber, Mitchell Hargreaves, Spencer Lanier, Aidan Schenk, Ammol Ramchandani
- Challenger Players: Paula Rives, Alex Guy, Pranav Rohira, Suraj Desai, Vivan Patel
Chennai Cool Cats
- Pro Players: Stavya Bhasin, Cass Hoag, Roman Estareja, Roos Van Reek, Vishal Masand, Arjun Singh
- Challenger Players: Rodrigo Reyes, Dev Shah, Aditya Singh, Rakshika Ravi, Manas Sharma
Kolkata Kingz
- Pro Players: Naimi Mehta, Drake Palm, George Wall, Collin Shick, Jhonnata Alvarez, Mihika Yadav
- Challenger Players: Abigail O’Kelley, Himanshu Dewaskar, Chris Turvey, Vinay Sethia, Vimalraj Jaychandran
Bengaluru Blazers
- Pro Players: Lucas Pascoe, Kaitlynn Hart, Heather Nobler, Kyle Yates, Aryaan Bhatia, Rohan Gajjar
- Challenger Players: Ryan Eveleiff, Tanishq Mahendru, Shraddha Damani, Rohin Rajani, Samarth Mishra
Goa Gladiators
- Pro Players: Carolina Lopez, Erik Forsythe, Phuc Huynh, Riley Bohnert, Jai Grewal, Freddie Powell
- Challenger Players: Frank Solana, Asmi Sapra, Tobias Moreno, Rohan Salvi, Sohel Makani
Ahmedabad Olympians
- Pro Players: Nicola Schoeman, Jayden Broderick, Alia Brown, Rob Nunnery, Naveen Beasley, Rex Thais
- Challenger Players: David Yahng, Priyanka Mehta, Ahmed Alzarif, Andrew Horridge, Pranav Dohiphode
Mumbai Chhatrapati Warriors
- Pro Players: Rianna Valdes, Austin Gridley, Wesley Gabrielsen, Purav Raja, Snehal Patil, Jericho Grollman
- Challenger Players: Jonathan Truong, Monica Menon, Zoyein Patel, Sthavir Bhasin, Shail Shah
Looking Ahead
With the Indian Open 2025 approaching, all eyes will be on the players and their teams as they battle for glory. The Global Sports Pickleball League is helping to develop the next generation of pickleball champions, and the Indian Open 2025 will be a showcase of how far the sport has come in India. Fans can expect thrilling matches, intense competition, and unforgettable moments from these rising stars.
News in Brief: Global Sports Pickleball League
The Indian Open 2025, set for February 3rd-9th, will feature top pickleball players from across India, many supported by the Global Sports Pickleball League. The league, with 10 teams from major cities, aims to promote the sport, nurture talent, and build a vibrant pickleball community in India.
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