Ankita Chawla and Rakshu Panchal Triumph in Women's Doubles at Queens on Court Tournament
Victory at the Queens on Court Tournament
In an impressive display, Ankita Chawla and Rakshu Panchal clinched the Women’s Doubles Intermediate title by defeating Amrita Jaisingh and Priyanka Modi with a score of 21-16 at the Queens on Court Women’s Day Tournament. This event, sanctioned by the Indian Pickleball Association and the Maharashtra Pickleball Association, took place at the Andheri Sports Complex in Mumbai on March 8. The final match showcased the duo's resilience as they overcame a previous defeat to their opponents in the group stage, ultimately securing the gold medal and marking their second medal of the tournament.
The final commenced with both teams engaging in rapid exchanges of points. Amrita and Priyanka aimed to replicate their earlier success, but Ankita and Rakshu gradually found their footing, demonstrating excellent coordination and shot placement to establish a lead and finish the match at 21-16. In the semi-finals, the winning pair had previously triumphed over Ishika and Aditi with a score of 15-9, showcasing their control and minimizing errors throughout the match.
On the other side, Amrita Jaisingh and Priyanka Modi advanced to the final after a narrow victory against Aakanksha Rawat and Shruti Kewalramani, winning 15-13 in a tightly contested match. Interestingly, both finalist teams had faced each other in the group stage, where Amrita and Priyanka had emerged victorious with a score of 15-12. However, the final saw Ankita and Rakshu turn the tables to claim the title.
The tournament featured numerous closely contested matches from the group stage onward, with Ankita and Rakshu ultimately emerging as champions. Their victory also highlighted a successful day, as they had previously secured a bronze medal in the 30+ Women’s Doubles category, marking their second podium finish at the event. In the third-place match, Aakanksha Rawat and Shruti Kewalramani defeated Ishika and Aditi 15-7 to take home the bronze medal.
About the Indian Pickleball Association: The Indian Pickleball Association serves as the official governing body for pickleball in India, committed to promoting and organizing the sport nationwide. The association aims to inspire players of all ages and skill levels through events like the IPA Nationals and is affiliated with the Asian Pickleball Association and the Global Pickleball Federation.
About Pickleball World Ranking: The PWR is a national ranking system that encompasses all age groups and skill divisions, 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, helping to identify the top players at various levels and forming the basis for team selections at school, district, state, and national levels.