Dinky Duo Dominates in Intramural Pickleball: In an impressive debut, the Dinky pickleball team, comprising kinesiology senior Ananya Luthria and industrial engineering senior Devadath Nair, defeated team Sweet and Sour with a commanding 21-7 scoreline. The match, held on September 9 at the Omar Smith Instructional Tennis Center, marked the beginning of the competitive intramural pickleball league play on West Campus.
Dominant Performance
Despite just three days of practice together, Luthria and Nair showcased their extensive court experience against Sweet and Sour, a team consisting of general studies freshman Greta Klein and agricultural economics senior Gunner Clapper. Luthria, with a background in squash since ninth grade, and Nair, a seasoned pickleball player since sixth grade, demonstrated their skills and preparation, taking control of the match from the outset.
The game started with Klein’s serve following a rock, paper, scissors decision, which went out of bounds. Luthria quickly capitalized, putting Dinky ahead 1-0. The first period saw Dinky dominate, ending 11-1 at the break. Despite a brief scare where Sweet and Sour scored five consecutive points to narrow the gap, Dinky secured the win with a final score of 21-7.
Reflecting on the Match
Post-match, both Luthria and Nair expressed dissatisfaction with their performance, despite the decisive victory. “We played pretty bad and not up to the standards we were wanting,” Nair said. Luthria and Nair are keen on improving their game, with Luthria focusing on her serving technique and Nair aiming to enhance his court-sharing skills.
Looking Ahead
The duo, who are also a couple off the court, joined the league to combine their love for pickleball with quality time together. “We are doing this together because we are dating and want to spend more time together,” Luthria explained. Their next scheduled game was a forfeit by the Dink Mode team, but they are excited about their upcoming matches against Chaps and TickleBalls on September 16, as they prepare for the league playoff tournament.
News in Brief : Dinky Duo Dominates in Intramural Pickleball
Ananya Luthria and Devadath Nair of the Dinky team won their opening intramural pickleball match against team Sweet and Sour with a 21-7 score. Despite their dominance, both players expressed a desire to improve their game. Luthria and Nair, who are also a couple, are looking forward to their next matches against Chaps and TickleBalls on September 16, ahead of the league playoff tournament.
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