Sonam Bali Venkatesh Nagarajan Pickleball Triumph: Sonam Bali and Venkatesh Nagarajan captured the 35+ Mixed Doubles title at the Coimbatore Pickleball Open, defeating Ganeshkumar Baskaran and Kamini Murugaboopathy in a close final. The Bengaluru-Chennai pair triumphed 15-14, overcoming late challenges and tough outdoor conditions to secure the gold medal in the first edition of the event.
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A Partnership Born from Chance
Sonam Bali had originally partnered with another player, but he withdrew due to injury. At the last moment, she teamed up with Venkatesh Nagarajan. The new duo quickly found chemistry and worked their way through league matches, the quarterfinals, and the semifinals before lifting the trophy.
“I have come all the way from Bengaluru, and we started with the 35+ Mixed Doubles. We played our leagues, quarters, semis, and now we are here. We are the winners of the 35+ category, and it has been a great journey. In fact, I had partnered with someone else, but he got injured, and I am glad that I got Venky as my partner for this tournament, and he’s played brilliantly. We’ve come this far and we’ve won the first edition of Coimbatore League and we’re really happy to be here. Everything has luckily been good for us. Both of us, we have the same matching paddle, everything. So, I guess it was meant to be and we got our first gold here,” Sonam Bali told Times Now.
Battling the Conditions
Playing outdoors made the final even harder. Strong winds and heat tested the players.
“The condition, you know, it gets really hot, it’s extremely windy. So, we really need to focus on, you know, the movement of the wind, how it’s going, because it’s unpredictable. So, it’s extremely, extremely hard to play outdoors, but we’ve managed somehow. I mean, these guys, the Chennai people, play outdoors. I mean, he’s kind of little used to it, but for us in Bangalore, we only play on indoor courts. This was something new, and it was fun, it was fun, it was really good fun,” Sonam Bali explained.
Her partner agreed. “Conditions were very tough here,” Venkatesh Nagarajan added.
Looking Ahead
Both players credited the organisers for a smooth tournament and the tough competition for improving their game. They now have their sights set on Delhi’s upcoming tournament.
“The event was organised really well. We participated in a couple of categories. The matches have happened on time and yeah, everything was good. I mean, we’ve played the best teams here. Now, obviously, playing with better teams, you get better. And now, we’re looking at the next big tournament that will probably be in Delhi, which is next to next weekend,” Sonam Bali said.
Final Score
Sonam Bali and Venkatesh Nagarajan def. Ganeshkumar Baskaran and Kamini Murugaboopathy 15-14.
Importance of the Win
This victory was not just about a trophy but also about adaptability. Sonam Bali’s sudden change of partner and the pair’s resilience in tough conditions showed the growing spirit of pickleball. Their success sets the stage for stronger performances in upcoming national tournaments.
News in Brief: Sonam Bali Venkatesh Nagarajan Pickleball Triumph
Sonam Bali and Venkatesh Nagarajan won the 35+ Mixed Doubles crown at the Coimbatore Pickleball Open, beating Ganeshkumar Baskaran and Kamini Murugaboopathy 15-14. Sonam’s original partner withdrew due to injury, but her new pairing with Venkatesh clicked instantly, overcoming heat and wind to secure gold in the first edition of the event.
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