Raaquib Merchant and Priyanka Mehta Triumph at PickleBay Zonals - West

Raaquib Merchant and Priyanka Mehta have claimed the Advanced Mixed Doubles title at the PickleBay Zonals - West, held in Pune. Their journey to victory included a series of impressive matches, culminating in a decisive win in the final. This article explores their path to success and highlights the significance of the Indian Pickleball Association in promoting the sport across the country. Discover more about their remarkable performance and the growing popularity of pickleball in India.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 13, 2026, 14:12 IST

Champions of the Advanced Mixed Doubles

Raaquib Merchant and Priyanka Mehta emerged victorious in the Advanced Mixed Doubles category at the PickleBay Zonals - West, a PWR 700 event sanctioned by the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA). This competition took place on March 13 at Dink, Hinjewadi, Pune. The pair showcased an impressive performance in the final, defeating Ratnam Shah and Khushi Desai with a score of 15-4 to claim the championship title. Aahana Punjabi and Arik Badami, along with Aashna and Ritesh Jaiswal, secured third place in this category.

Competing in Group C, Raaquib and Priyanka demonstrated their skills from the outset. They kicked off their tournament with an 11-7 victory against Vidula Reddy and Nikhil Tummalapalli. Maintaining their momentum, they won their second match against Shefali Bhatt and Samarth Bharadwaj, again by 11-7. They concluded the group stage with a resounding 11-0 win over Pranjal Shinde and Ritesh Acharya.

In the quarterfinals, the duo continued their strong performance, defeating Vignesh S and Asmi Sapra with an 11-7 scoreline to move on to the semifinals. The semifinal match proved to be challenging as they faced Aahana Punjabi and Arik Badami, but Raaquib and Priyanka managed to secure an 11-8 win, demonstrating their composure under pressure. With this confidence, they dominated the final match, finishing the tournament as unbeaten champions.

About the Indian Pickleball Association: The Indian Pickleball Association serves as the official governing body for pickleball in India, focusing on the promotion and organization of the sport nationwide. The association aims to inspire players of all ages and skill levels through events like the IPA Nationals. It is affiliated with 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 acts as the official National Sports Federation Ranking for India. With numerous sanctioned events occurring weekly across the country, PWR identifies the top players at every level and lays the groundwork for team selections at various stages, including school, district, state, and national levels.

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