Bengaluru
The Karnataka State Pickleball Association hailed the commendable performance of the state’s athletes, signaling a rise in Karnataka’s reputation in the sporting domain. Rajat Kankar, the General Secretary of the association, lauded the athletes for exceeding expectations and bringing home six medals in the National Pickleball Tournament, bolstering Karnataka’s prominence on the sports map. Expressing confidence in the state’s sporting prowess, Kankar announced plans to further elevate Karnataka’s standing on the global stage. Anticipating the World Pickleball Championship slated for Bangalore next May, the association pledged its commitment to providing top-notch facilities and training to bolster the chances of Karnataka’s athletes clinching more medals for the state. The national-level Pickleball tournament, jointly organized by the Tony Indian Pickleball Association and Gujarat State Pickleball Association in Ahmedabad, witnessed a spirited participation of over 480 athletes representing 17 states. Karnataka’s youthful talents shone brightly as Nirupraj and Sukshit Gowda emerged victorious in the Under-19 boys’ category, clinching the gold medal with an impressive performance against Rajasthan’s Sourav, securing a resounding victory of Karnataka 15-Rajasthan 03. In the girls’ category, Purnima and Kavya fought valiantly against Delhi’s Khushi and Monika, earning a hard-fought silver medal, contributing to Karnataka’s commendable position despite Delhi’s edge with Karnataka 04-Delhi 15. Additionally, Karnataka’s representatives excelled in the 30-year-old women’s category as Shilpa Sham and Dr. Umera showcased their skill, securing gold medals against Tamil Nadu’s Kavya and Suraiya, propelling Karnataka to an admirable Karnataka 15 – Tamil Nadu 11 victory.
