Vivan Patel Veer Shah Pickleball World Cup: Teenagers Vivan Patel and Veer Shah from Ahmedabad have been selected to represent India at the Pickleball World Cup in Florida from October 27 to November 2. They join a 14-member Indian team that also includes veterans like Nitten Kirtane, Sujay Parekh, and Bela Kotwani.
The two young players earned their places after two days of trials at the Indian Pickleball Association’s National Centre for Excellence in Ahmedabad. This will be their first international event, and they are eager to prove themselves on the global stage.
Rising Teen Talents
Fifteen-year-old Vivan Patel said his choice to switch from tennis to pickleball has opened new opportunities. “I have a tennis background,” he said. “My coach Pawan sir (Pawan Patel) and Dhiren sir (Dhiren Patel) told me that in pickleball there are so many opportunities for those who have a tennis background, so I started playing pickleball.”
Speaking about his selection, he added, “It is a proud moment to be selected in the Indian team for the World Cup, and we are excited to go to the US. The facilities are fantastic and we will be practicing more to win the gold medal. We will give our best.”
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Thirteen-year-old Veer Shah, who also shifted from tennis, credited his coaches for guiding him. “First, I used to play tennis,” he said. “My coach Pawan Patel advised me to try pickleball and I liked it. After playing for a year or two, my coach Dhiren sir told me, ‘You are playing nicely, so you should play professionally.’”
Sharing his experience, he added, “The matches I played were highly intense, but me and my partner played very well, and the opponents also gave us a tough fight. It is a very proud moment for me and my parents that I have been selected to play in the Pickleball World Cup. I am very excited.”
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Veteran Presence
Alongside the youngsters, experienced players also secured spots. In the 50+ women’s doubles category, Mumbai’s Sujay Parekh and Bela Kotwani were selected.
“I have been playing pickleball for the last 7–8 years. It is my go-to place, I love it,” said Sujay Parekh. “The matches here were excellent, they were quite close. The final was nail-biting. We lost the first game, but then we got our act together, focused, and we got it. The courts here are beautiful.”
Sujay added that pickleball is an emotional outlet for her. “I am a homemaker. But having a teenager at home, I am fighting a lot of battles every day. I bring all that out on court, and that is doing good to my game.” She also said, “I have been to the event before. I competed at the Peru edition last year. The experience was beautiful. I did not want to miss it this time as well, and I am very happy to be here. The selection was carried out flawlessly.”
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Her doubles partner, Bela Kotwani, also from Mumbai, started playing pickleball in 2018. “The selection was fantastic,” she said. “It was a tough competition – we had five pairs to play against. The last pair was really tough for us because we lost the first game, but then came back to win the second and third. We are really proud of that.”
She added, “I am yearning to go to the World Cup this time because age is catching up. I want to do as much as I can.” Speaking on the sport’s growth, she said, “It has been growing by leaps and bounds. Everywhere, courts are mushrooming. A lot of tournaments are happening and the level is also high. Many tennis players are switching to pickleball.”
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Former Davis Cup Star Joins In
In the 50+ men’s doubles category, Pune’s former Davis Cup player Nitten Kirtane will represent India alongside Indian Pickleball Association president Suryaveer Singh Bhullar.
“I am happy with my progress, with the way things have gone,” said Nitten Kirtane. “Happy to be at this lovely venue, Dinkers Academy. A special thank you to Suryaveer, the IPA president, who hosted such wonderful trials. And I am happy that we got through.”
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He admitted the competition was tough. “It was a tricky competition – the matches were of 15 points. Luckily, me and Surya were on top of the matches. I fought in a lot of them – we were down in two or three, especially in the semifinals against Sachin and his partner. Then we played Bhushan and Naveen in the earlier round. Both were tricky matches because you have to be very careful with the rally. But fortunately, me and Suryaveer, playing for the first time together, clicked. I’m happy we got through in the end.”
His partner, Suryaveer Singh Bhullar, expressed pride at representing India. “Apart from being the winner in the 50+ category men’s doubles trial, I am also the president of the IPA. It is my great pleasure to be leading the sport from the front, both as a player and as president.”
He added, “To play for the country is a dream every person has. It is a privilege that I have been selected to represent India at the Pickleball World Cup happening in Florida this year in October.”
Thanking his partner, he said, “I was lucky to have a partner like Nitten Kirtane. He is a fabulous person and an amazing player. It was a privilege to play with him and come out as a winner.”
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Full Indian Squad for Pickleball World Cup 2025
Open Category
Men’s Singles: Aman Patel
Women’s Singles: Amrita Mukherjee
Men’s Doubles: Dhiren Patel and Suraj Desai
Women’s Doubles: Rakshikha Ravi and Sindoor Mittal
Under-16 Category
Boys: Veer Shah and Vivan Patel
Girls: Aayra Khanna and Anushka Chhabaria
50+ Category
Men’s Doubles: Suryaveer Singh Bhullar and Nitten Kirtane
Women’s Doubles: Bela Kotwani and Sujay Parekh
Looking Ahead
The selection highlights both youth and experience in Indian pickleball. For the teenagers, it is a chance to shine internationally, while the veterans hope to bring stability and pride. The Pickleball World Cup in Florida will test India’s rising talent and show how far the sport has grown in the country.
News in Brief: Vivan Patel Veer Shah Pickleball World Cup
Ahmedabad teenagers Vivan Patel and Veer Shah will represent India at the Pickleball World Cup in Florida from October 27 to November 2. They join veterans like Nitten Kirtane, Sujay Parekh, and Bela Kotwani in a 14-member squad. The mix of young talent and experienced players shows India’s growing strength in pickleball.
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