Suneel Shankar and Nirmal Kumar claimed the men’s doubles 50+ title at the 7th Tamil Nadu State Championship Pickleball, an IPA-sanctioned PWR 100 event, held at the Picklers Arena in Chennai on Sunday. They narrowly defeated Thomas Joy and Palani Vale 15–14 in a thrilling final.
Thrilling Final Match
In the final, both pairs played at a high level, exchanging points throughout the match. Suneel Shankar and Nirmal Kumar maintained composure during critical moments, winning 15–14 over Thomas Joy and Palani Vale. The close score highlighted the intensity and skill of both teams.
Journey Through the Knockout Rounds
Earlier, Suneel Shankar and Nirmal Kumar faced tough competition in the knockout rounds. They beat Venkataramanan Srinivasan and Vasudevan Kothandaraman 11–8 in the semifinal. In the quarterfinal, they overcame S. Srinivasan and Vikram Chandrasekar 11–3 to advance to the final.
Group Stage Dominance
Placed in Group C, Suneel Shankar and Nirmal Kumar started strongly with an 11–0 win over Vinod Simon and Dannie Mathew. They continued with an 11–3 victory against Pattabhi Ram and R. Madhan. Their third group-stage match saw them lose 7–11 to M. Mathivanan and Ranjitbalan A.M., but they finished the group stage with a decisive 11–0 win over Arvind S. and Hari Balaji.
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Tournament Context
The 7th Tamil Nadu State Championship Pickleball, held over two weekends—6th and 7th September, and 13th and 14th September—is an important event in the IPA calendar. It brings together top pickleball players in southern India and reflects the sport’s growing popularity in the region.
Significance of the Victory
Suneel Shankar and Nirmal Kumar’s win demonstrates their teamwork, strategy, and resilience. Their success in a close final and consistent performance in earlier rounds emphasizes their position as leading players in the men’s 50+ category. The victory highlights the competitive level of pickleball in Tamil Nadu.
News in Brief: Suneel Shankar and Nirmal Kumar
Suneel Shankar and Nirmal Kumar won the men’s doubles 50+ title at the Tamil Nadu State Championship Pickleball in Chennai. They narrowly beat Thomas Joy and Palani Vale 15–14 in the final. Earlier, they defeated Venkataramanan Srinivasan-Vasudevan Kothandaraman 11–8 in the semifinal and showed strong form throughout the group stage.
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