Armaan Bhatia and Rika Fujiwara Lead Asian Singles Rankings in Pickleball

The latest Asian singles rankings in pickleball have been announced, with Armaan Bhatia and Rika Fujiwara leading their respective categories. Bhatia, an emerging talent from India, has garnered attention for his impressive performances on the PPA Tour. Meanwhile, Rika Fujiwara from Japan tops the women's rankings. This article delves into the details of the rankings, the significance of the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR), and insights from notable players like Ben Johns. Stay tuned for more updates on the exciting world of pickleball!

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 20, 2026, 16:41 IST

Asian Singles Rankings Revealed

On March 19, the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR) released the latest Asian singles rankings, showcasing Armaan Bhatia and Rika Fujiwara as the top players in their respective categories. Armaan, an Indian pickleball player currently competing on the PPA Tour, boasts a DUPR of 6.247. He recently made headlines by defeating Jay Devilliers and Tom Protzek at the Newport Beach Open, although he was eliminated by Christopher Haworth in the Round of 16.

Ben Johns, a prominent figure in the pickleball community, praised Bhatia's skills and expressed interest in supporting him. In a conversation with Summit Pickleball, Johns remarked, "I would say Armaan Bhatia would be my pick," emphasizing the young athlete's potential in the sport. He noted that Bhatia's talent remains underappreciated due to limited opportunities to compete at higher levels or collaborate with top-tier players.

Johns elaborated, stating, "I don't think he's had the same calibre of partners necessarily, or at least not enough of them, numbers-wise, for you to truly see the player that he is." He believes that with consistent partnerships in significant tournaments, Bhatia could achieve remarkable results.

Following Bhatia in the rankings is Phuc Huynh, who holds a DUPR of 6.171, while Thomas Yu ranks third with a score of 6.154.

In the women's singles rankings, Rika Fujiwara from Japan leads with a DUPR of 5.728. Chao Yi Wang from Chinese Taipei is in second place with a rating of 5.625, and Yufei Long from China follows in third with a DUPR of 5.564. The only Indian player in the top 10 is Mihika Yadav, who is currently ranked 10th with a DUPR of 5.186.

Understanding DUPR

DUPR, or Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating, is a widely recognized and free rating system for pickleball players. It evaluates players on a scale from 2.000 to 8.000 based on their match performance, factoring in wins, scores, and the strength of opponents. This system serves as the official rating for both professional and amateur tours, utilizing a modified Elo algorithm to assess skill levels. To ensure accuracy, it requires match data from 10 to 20 results, awarding higher points for victories against stronger opponents. The Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) adopted DUPR as its official rating system in December 2025.

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