New Delhi, Sep 8: India signed off from the Pickleball World Cup in Da Nang, Vietnam, on a high note, finishing fourth in the overall standings with 41 medals — seven gold, 17 silver and 17 bronze.
The result reflects India’s growing presence in international pickleball. The country had finished seventh in the previous edition, making this year’s fourth-place finish a significant step forward for the Indian contingent.
India’s campaign brought together players from different generations and experience levels, with athletes competing across Kids, Juniors, Open, Seniors and Masters categories. More than 130 Indian players also took part in individual events, giving the country a strong presence throughout the tournament.
The youngsters provided one of the most encouraging moments of the campaign, with India’s Kids team winning a silver medal. Led by Veer Shah, the team showed confidence and composure against strong international opposition. Veer was also recognised as the best captain in the Kids category.
India also produced several impressive individual performances. Purvansh Patel won gold in the Under-18 boys’ singles, while Harsh Mehta secured bronze in the Open Pro Men’s Doubles. Bhushan Akut emerged as one of the standout performers, winning three gold medals in the 60+ men’s doubles, singles and mixed doubles events. Fayrouz Zaidi and Vivek Reddy also won gold in their respective 40+ singles categories.
The team events were equally competitive. India’s Junior, Open and Masters teams reached the quarter-finals, while the Senior team advanced to the round of 16. The Junior and Masters teams were beaten by Vietnam, while the Open team lost 2-4 to eventual champions USA. India’s Senior team was eliminated by New Zealand.
Beyond the medals, the tournament highlighted how quickly pickleball is developing in India. The sport is attracting players across age groups, from young athletes beginning their competitive journeys to experienced players making their mark internationally. India’s participation also reflects a wider effort to build a stronger pathway from grassroots competition to the global stage.
Indian Pickleball Association CEO Aditya Khanna described the fourth-place finish as an important achievement and said the association would now focus on strengthening grassroots development and creating opportunities for more young players to emerge.
The latest performance gives Indian pickleball plenty to build on. With a larger pool of players, stronger international exposure and increasing interest among younger athletes, India will now look to turn this progress into an even stronger showing at the next World Cup.