Saurav Panja Pickleball Journey: Saurav Panja, a former six-time national tennis champion of India, is now making waves in pickleball. Having played alongside Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, and Sania Mirza, Panja has quickly adapted to the sport and won tournaments, showing his competitive spirit remains strong even nine months into pickleball.
Tennis Career Highlights
“I am a six-time national champion of India. I have played in Grand Slams, specifically the main draw, such as the US Open and Wimbledon. I have represented India alongside Leander, Mahesh and Sanya and all these guys,” Panja said.
He also competed in prestigious Indian tournaments. “If you go back in history, only a handful of players in the history of India have played the finals. And I am one of them. It is called the ATP Gold Flake Open, later the ATP Chennai Open, and then the ATP Maharashtra Open. Very few Indians have played it. Someone like Rohan Bopanna has played it. Leander has played it. Mahesh Bhupathi has played it, whom I have played alongside,” he added.
Transition to Pickleball
For Panja, pickleball was a natural choice. “See, it’s a good sport. I like the sport. It’s fun. And it’s a growing sport. So, why not?”
Coaching has supported his journey. “I am one of the junior coaches of India. I have coached players who are professionally playing. Many of my students are also getting into pickleball. Not leaving tennis, but in parallel. So, it’s a good sport. And I like the sport. I have gotten into it. I have played it. And again, I have not played too badly at my age, also. I have won the tournament,” he said.
Adjusting to a new sport required learning new skills. “If you have played tennis, or if you have played squash, or if you have played any racquet sport, it’s always easy to get into pickleball. It always helps. Many of the skill sets are the same. But it’s not the same game, because you need to really master the art of pickleball. The racket is different. The balls are different. The court is smaller. The size of the net is not as high. So, it’s a different game. You’ve got to make a lot of adjustments,” Panja explained.
Early Success and Upcoming Goals
Despite being new to the sport, Panja has already impressed. “I played the Pickle Bay… I won the doubles event. I mean, everybody was surprised. So was I. Because I’ve only gotten into it in the last nine months, I didn’t believe I would be the best, to be honest, so quickly,” he said.
At the Arena One Open in Kolkata, Panja will compete in mixed doubles and 35-plus doubles. “I’m playing only the mixed doubles, and I’m playing the 35-plus doubles. I’m not playing singles here because I’ve got coaching commitments also,” he added.
Staying Competitive at 48
Even at 48, Panja remains focused and motivated. “The kind of competitiveness I’ve come from, the way I was trained — any sport I would play, I would like to be the best that I can be. So, if I’ve gotten into this, I’ve already won an all-India tournament. I want to play as long as I can. And of course, I would like to give my best. Giving your best is in your hands. The outcome is never in your hands. Your best might not be the best for that day. You might still lose. Because somebody can play better than your best,” he said.
News in Brief: Saurav Panja Pickleball Journey
Saurav Panja, a former six-time national tennis champion of India, has transitioned to pickleball and quickly found success. Having played alongside Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, and Sania Mirza, Panja won tournaments within nine months of starting pickleball. He will compete in mixed doubles and 35-plus doubles at the Arena One Open in Kolkata.
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