Some moments in sport are measured by trophies. Others are measured by the impact they create.
The Pickleball World Cup 2026 was one such moment: a journey that went beyond results and showed the world that Indian pickleball is ready to compete on the biggest stage.
Part 1: The Honour of Representing India: My Journey as a Coach
Being appointed as the National Team Coach for India at the Pickleball World Cup is, without doubt, the highest honour of my sporting journey.
Coming from a background in tennis and having spent years playing, learning, and coaching, this opportunity represented everything that sport stands for: trust, responsibility and the privilege of representing your country.
There is no greater feeling than standing courtside with the Indian flag on your chest, knowing that every decision, every strategy, and every moment is contributing towards something bigger than yourself.
As a coach, my role was not only about technical preparation or match strategies. It was about creating belief, building team chemistry, understanding each player’s strengths, and preparing them to perform when the pressure was at its highest.
To be part of Team India at a World Cup was a dream moment, but to see our players step onto the court with confidence and fight for every point made it even more special.
I am deeply grateful to Times Group MD Vineet Jain, Aditya Khanna, Suryaveer Singh Bhullar, Ashish Khanna, Aalaap Sharma, Dilip Mohanty, the players, my support system, and IPA for trusting me with this responsibility and giving me this incredible opportunity.
I would also like to extend my gratitude to Lucknow Leopards: Shaleen Jain, Athletiq: Harsh, and Electrorush for their invaluable support in helping the team on this journey.
Part 2: The Team Behind the Journey: The Heart of Team India
A coach’s greatest privilege is not just being given an opportunity; it is being able to work with a group of players who are willing to believe, learn, and fight together.
This World Cup team was a special group.
Led by our captain Harsh Mehta, along with Arjun Singh, Aman Patel, Anish R. Froilan, Pearl Amalsadiwala, Naomi Amalsadiwala, Aaliya Ebrahim, and Mihika Yadav, this was a team full of young talent, energy, and immense potential.
Every player brought their own strengths and contributed towards the team’s journey.
Harsh, as captain, was exceptional. He stepped up when it mattered most and showed the qualities of a world-class player and leader. His performances, composure and ability to handle pressure made a huge difference for our team.
But what made this team special was the support around him. Every player contributed, pushed each other, and created an environment where everyone believed that we belonged on this stage.
The biggest takeaway from this experience is the potential of this young group of athletes.
They have shown that Indian pickleball has the talent and the foundation to produce world-class players. With the right opportunities, guidance and continued exposure to international competition, this group has the ability to grow into some of the best players in the world.
As a coach, seeing their commitment, passion and willingness to represent India was one of the most rewarding parts of this journey.
This is only the beginning, and I truly believe this group has a very bright future ahead.
Part 3: India’s Campaign: A Tournament Full of Belief
Team India entered the Pickleball World Cup with one goal: to compete, represent the country with pride and show the world the progress of Indian pickleball.
What stood out during our campaign was not just the number of victories, but the manner in which we achieved them.
These were not narrow wins or matches decided by small margins. We delivered comprehensive performances, showing consistency, confidence and the ability to execute under pressure.
Every match gave the team more belief and reinforced the feeling that we truly belonged on this stage.
We started the tournament strongly, going unbeaten in the group stage:
Group Stage
- Defeated Antigua and Barbuda: 6–0
- Defeated Israel: 6–0
- Defeated Czech Republic: 5–1
Group Stage Record: 3 wins, 0 losses
The momentum continued into the knockout stages:
- Round of 32: Defeated China 4–0
- Round of 16: Defeated Philippines 4–1
Five consecutive victories took us into the Quarter Finals.
But more than the results, these performances created something even more important: belief.
Belief within the team that we could compete against anyone. Belief that our preparation was working. Belief that Indian pickleball had the ability to stand alongside the best teams in the world.
That belief became crucial when we faced our biggest challenge of the tournament: Team USA.
Part 4: The USA Challenge: When India Took on the Best in the World
The quarterfinal matchup was against Team USA: a team filled with some of the biggest names in professional pickleball.
This was not just another opponent.
This was a team featuring some of the most accomplished players on the APP Tour, including multiple No.1-ranked players across singles and doubles divisions.
Men
- Ronan Camron — APP No.1 Singles
- Jack Munro — APP No.1 Doubles
- Richard Livernese — APP No.1 Doubles
Women
- Katerina Stewart — APP No.1 Singles
- Bobbi Oshiro — APP Top 5
- Vivian Glozman — APP Top 5
- Shelby Bates — APP Top 5
A team of this calibre had dominated the tournament and eventually went on to become World Cup champions.
To truly understand the dominance of Team USA, we have to look at their performance throughout the competition. They dropped only three games in the entire tournament, two against us and only one against the rest of the field.
They went on to win both their semi-final and Final matches convincingly, defeating some of the strongest opponents (like Vietnam) with 4–0 victories.
On paper, this was a huge challenge.
But sport is not played on paper.
When we walked onto centre court against the USA, the goal was not to prove people wrong. The goal was to prove to ourselves that we belonged there.
Given the opportunity to play on the centre court, live on broadcast, our players embraced the moment.
Against a team that many expected to dominate, India did something special.
We went 2–1 up against the USA.
For that moment, the world was watching Indian pickleball compete fearlessly against one of the strongest teams in the world.
Although USA eventually won the tie 4–2, that match was bigger than the result.
It showed that Indian players have the ability, the confidence, and the courage to compete with the best.
To come away with such a performance against a team of this calibre is a testament to the potential we have as a pickleball nation.
Part 5: The Recognition and The Road Ahead
The biggest achievement from this World Cup was not just the wins or reaching the Quarter Finals.
It was the attention we gained.
The performance against the USA showed the international pickleball community that India is not just participating: India is ready to compete.
This is only the beginning.
Now comes the responsibility to build on this momentum to continue developing players, improve our systems, create more international exposure, and ensure that Indian pickleball continues to rise.
The potential is immense.
The players have shown what is possible. The world has taken notice.
The journey has started. Now it is our responsibility to keep building, keep improving, and keep raising the standard of Indian pickleball.
Proud to represent India. Proud to be part of this journey.