Mumbai Smashers Triumph in Indian Pickleball League Final
Mumbai Smashers' Remarkable Journey
In a stunning turnaround, the Mumbai Smashers clinched the championship title by defeating the Hyderabad Royals 5-1 in the final of the Indian Pickleball League (IPBL). This league, recognized as India's only official pickleball competition sanctioned by the Indian Pickleball Association under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, was launched by a prominent media group. The final match took place at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall, attended by Kiren Rijiju, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs.
Vision for the Future of Pickleball
During the event, Vineet Jain, Managing Director of the media group, expressed his enthusiasm for pickleball, stating, "This sport has the potential to attract mass participation. I extend my gratitude to all team owners, players, referees, and everyone involved in making this league a success. Today marks the beginning, and we have many exciting plans ahead."
Star-Studded All-Star Match
The Grand Finale was preceded by an All-Star match, featuring notable figures such as Jain, GPF President Javier Regalado, IPA President Suryaveer Singh Bhullar, and international star Hercilio Cabieses. Bollywood actor Harshvardhan Rane also graced the event, which saw Team Dink triumph over Team Volley with a score of 2-1, captivating the audience.
Path to the Championship
The journey to the final was marked by contrasting paths for both teams. Hyderabad started strong, overcoming a mid-league slump to finish second in the group stage. In contrast, Mumbai, who had not won until their last league match, staged a remarkable comeback by defeating Gurgaon, which led to a three-way Play-In. They then secured victories against Lucknow in the Eliminator and Chennai in Qualifier 2 to reach the final.
The Championship Match
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IPBL Season Awards
The league concluded with several accolades. Duong was honored as both Male MVP and Best Men's Singles Player, while Fudge received the Female MVP award. Roos van Reek, who remained unbeaten during the league phase, was named Best Women's Singles Player. Harsh Mehta and Pearl Amalsadiwala were awarded Best Doubles Player in their respective categories.