16-Year-Old Pickleball Player: At just 16, Aaron Naik became the youngest semi-finalist in the 18s men’s doubles category at the England Nationals in Bolton, playing alongside partner Stephen Hargreaves. Aaron, who started playing pickleball only months prior, is making a name for himself in the sport.
Early Beginnings in Pickleball
Aaron began his pickleball journey at David Lloyd gym. His coach, Fathi Seliman, encouraged him to enter competitive events, leading him to participate in an international tournament in the over 18s men’s category at the age of 15. Although he returned without a medal, the experience fueled his determination to succeed in future competitions.
Building a Pickleball Community
After qualifying as a trainer through the Pickleball Leaders Programme, Aaron established a lunchtime Pickleball club at Bablake School in Coventry with support from his teachers. Headteacher Andrew Wright expressed pride in Aaron’s achievements, noting,
“We were very proud to hear about Aaron’s ongoing success in the sport and so pleased when he was able to help set up a club.” – (Andrew Wright)
“As far as I know, we are one of the first schools in the UK to offer Pickleball and the take up has been impressive.” – (Andrew Wright)
Bablake School aims to be one of the first in the UK to offer pickleball, and interest has been strong.
Ambitions as an Ambassador
Aaron is now a youth ambassador for Pickleball England and David Lloyd Solihull Cranmore. He is actively promoting the sport in schools and organizing regular tournaments at his gym.
“I want to play a role in growing the sport as an ambassador or promoter. I’d like to see it become more widely recognised, especially in the UK.” – (Aaron)
He hopes to see pickleball gain wider recognition, especially in the UK.
Personal Growth Through Sport
Aaron shared how pickleball has positively impacted his mental resilience.
“It has taught me a lot about mental resilience.” – (Aaron)
“In the past, especially during the English Open, I’d let even a small deficit make me give up mentally, which left me frustrated and disappointed.” – (Aaron)
“Pickleball has pushed me to adopt an ‘it’s not over until it’s over’ mindset. This shift has helped me not just in matches but in other areas of my life too.” – (Aaron)
Unique Appeal of Pickleball
Describing pickleball as a blend of badminton, tennis, and ping-pong, Aaron appreciates the sport’s accessibility.
“Pickleball has made me think about sport in a different way. I’ve loved racquet sports ever since I started playing tennis at age nine, but pickleball has a unique charm. It’s incredibly accessible—anyone, regardless of age or sporting background, can pick it up and play well.” – (Aaron)
Aaron’s love for racquet sports began with tennis at age nine, but he finds pickleball has a unique charm that sets it apart. Despite its popularity in the U.S., pickleball has not been considered for the Olympics due to strict criteria set by the International Olympic Committee. However, Aaron remains optimistic about the future.
“I want to keep competing and improving, with my ultimate dream being to represent Team GB if Pickleball ever makes it to the Olympics. For that to happen, we need sporting bodies worldwide to champion the sport and help it reach its full potential. Until then, I’ll keep doing my part to raise its profile and push myself to new heights.” – (Aaron)
He believes that for this to happen, global sporting bodies need to champion the sport, and he is committed to raising its profile.
News in Brief: 16-Year-Old Pickleball Player
At 16, Aaron Naik became the youngest semi-finalist in the 18s men’s doubles at the England Nationals, partnering with Stephen Hargreaves.
After starting pickleball just months ago, Aaron established a lunchtime club at Bablake School and serves as a youth ambassador for Pickleball England. He aims to promote the sport’s accessibility and dreams of representing Team GB in future Olympic competitions.
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