Aashrithaa Clinches Under-16 Girls Singles Title at Inaugural Junior Pickleball Championship

Aashrithaa has made headlines by winning the Under-16 Girls Singles title at India's first Junior Pickleball Championship. The event, held in Ahmedabad, saw her triumph over Dhiyaa Prasanna Kumar in a closely contested final. Both players demonstrated exceptional talent throughout the tournament, with Aashrithaa's journey marked by impressive victories. This championship not only highlights emerging talent in pickleball but also serves as a selection trial for the upcoming Pickleball World Cup in Vietnam. Discover more about this exciting event and the future of pickleball in India.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 13, 2026, 20:00 IST

Aashrithaa's Triumph at the Junior Pickleball Championship

Aashrithaa emerged victorious in the Under-16 Girls Singles category at India's first Junior Pickleball Championship, sanctioned by the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) as a PWR 400 event, held at the Dinkers Pickleball Academy in Ahmedabad on June 12. In a thrilling final, she defeated Dhiyaa Prasanna Kumar with a score of 21-19. Both players showcased remarkable skills from the beginning of the match.

Representing Tamil Nadu, Aashrithaa kicked off her tournament with a 21-16 victory against Siddhi Chandresh Panara. She continued her strong performance in the semifinals, where she won against Mahika Rathod with a score of 21-14. Dhiyaa, on her part, began her journey with a solid 21-15 win over Sanjana Chopra and advanced to the finals by defeating Joanna Zara Joseph 21-17 in the semifinals.

The final match was a closely contested affair, with both Aashrithaa and Dhiyaa maintaining a competitive edge until the very end. Ultimately, Aashrithaa's determination led her to clinch the title. In the third-place match, Mahika Rathod secured the bronze medal by overcoming Joanna Zara Joseph with a score of 15-5.

This championship holds significant importance as it also serves as the selection trials for the upcoming Pickleball World Cup, which is set to take place in Da Nang, Vietnam, from August 30 to September 6.

About the Indian Pickleball Association: The Indian Pickleball Association is the recognized governing body for pickleball in India, committed to the sport's promotion, development, and organization nationwide. The association aims to inspire players of all ages and skill levels through events like the IPA Nationals. It is affiliated with both the Asian Pickleball Association (APA) and the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF).

About Pickleball World Ranking: The PWR is a national ranking system that encompasses all age groups, skill levels, and formats, including singles, doubles, and mixed categories. It serves as the official National Sports Federation Ranking for India. With numerous sanctioned events occurring weekly across the country, PWR identifies the top Indian players at various levels and lays the groundwork for team selection at school, district, state, and national levels.

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