Armaan Bhatia

Armaan Bhatia grew up in Mumbai with a deep passion for tennis. From a young age, he dedicated countless hours to training, aiming for success in the sport. He participated in numerous tennis tournaments and followed a rigorous practice routine. However, his progress faced setbacks, especially with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which limited opportunities and disrupted his path in tennis.

While continuing his tennis journey, Bhatia encountered pickleball for the first time during a practice session on an indoor court in Mumbai, especially during the monsoon season. What began as a fun, recreational activity soon turned into a new passion for him. His background in tennis made the transition to pickleball smoother, as many of the skills he had developed in tennis translated well to this new sport.

Transition to Professional Pickleball

In 2020, Bhatia made the decision to transition from tennis to pickleball, initially playing it for fun. However, his competitive drive soon took over, and by 2022, he entered his first professional pickleball tournament in Mumbai, where he performed exceptionally well. His success in the tournament earned him recognition within the Asian pickleball community. By September 2022, Bhatia had committed fully to pickleball, honing his skills and becoming a certified pickleball coach, adding to his expertise as a former tennis coach.