Mihika Yadav Pickleball Rise Up Championship: Mihika Yadav, India’s top-ranked women’s singles pickleball player, is set to compete in the Rise Up Championship – Pickleball By The Bay 2025, the country’s largest PWR 1000 event, in Chennai. She will play in Women’s Singles Pro, Mixed Doubles Pro with Amol Ramchandani, and Women’s Doubles Pro with Gurdleen Singh.
Transition from Tennis to Pickleball
Once a professional tennis player for India, Mihika has spent the past two and a half years focusing on pickleball. “It has been two and a half years now I have been playing pickleball. I have also been a professional tennis player for India, so the transition from a tennis player to a pickleball player has been pretty smooth. I just love how addictive both the sports are,” Mihika told Pickleball Now.
She has competed internationally in the inaugural PPA Tour Asia, including stops in Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Japan. Her achievements include a gold medal at the Dubai Open this year and a bronze at the Monsoon Pickleball Championships.
Singles and Doubles Challenges
Mihika finds singles relatively easy to adapt to due to baseline rallies and aggressive gameplay. “I think for the singles game especially, it’s pretty smooth. There’s a lot of baseline rallies, especially in the women’s singles game. It’s a power game, aggressive game styles. But the doubles game, I’d say there’s a little bit of unlearning to do from tennis. It is a little different from tennis,” she said.
She also noted the rapid growth of pickleball in India, especially in Tamil Nadu. “In the recent five or six years, pickleball has been seeing a drastic growth in India, and in Tamil Nadu also. And this is the first ever PWR 1000 event happening in India.”
Excitement at the Rise Up Championship
Mihika praised the tournament’s coastal Chennai venue and the quality of competition. “First of all, kudos to Rise Up Championships for conducting the very first and the biggest PWR event in India and what a stunning venue. I have to give credit to the amazing, it’s such a feel-good factor coming out and playing by the sea,” she said.
She added, “It’s exciting to see local talent coming out and playing the players in Tamil Nadu and the South. So, it is a very, very exciting news for Indian pickleball.”
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Pickleball as a Lifestyle
Mihika encouraged everyone to try pickleball, emphasizing its health and social benefits. “You’re missing out. You should definitely pick up a paddle and start playing pickleball. It’s such an addictive game. You stay fit while having fun. People from all across all age groups can pick up the sport, whether you’re a teenager, whether you’re 50 plus, there are categories and events for all, which is such a unique part of the game. With the boom and the rise of pickleball, it’s become the fastest growing sport in the world today. So guys, just definitely go out and pick up a paddle right now,” she urged.
As Mihika Yadav steps onto the courts at the Rise Up Championship, she brings her international experience, competitive drive, and passion for promoting pickleball in India.
News in Brief: Mihika Yadav Pickleball Rise Up Championship
Mihika Yadav, India’s top women’s singles pickleball player, will compete in the Rise Up Championship – Pickleball By The Bay 2025 in Chennai. She will play Women’s Singles Pro, Mixed Doubles Pro with Amol Ramchandani, and Women’s Doubles Pro with Gurdleen Singh, encouraging players of all ages to embrace the sport.
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