Exciting Start to Pickleball Now Grand Prix in Mumbai
Day 1 Highlights of the Pickleball Now Grand Prix
The Pickleball Now Grand Prix kicked off in Mumbai on Thursday, July 23, showcasing thrilling matches with Raaquib Merchant and Bhumika Tripathi emerging as standout champions. The opening day featured eight finals across both Advanced and Open categories.
Merchant had an exceptional Day 1, clinching victories in three different events. He partnered with Ritesh Jaiswal to secure a win against Sudarshan Dhakne and Varun Mittal, finishing 11-5 in the Men's Doubles 19+ Advanced final. Later, in a nail-biting Men's Singles Open final, Merchant faced Jaiswal, ultimately winning 11-9.
In the Men's Doubles Open final, Merchant teamed up with Vishal Jadhav, delivering a commanding performance by defeating Dhakne and Mittal 11-0.
Bhumika Tripathi also shone brightly, capturing two titles in women's singles. She first triumphed over Aahana Punjabi 11-7 in the Women's Singles 19+ Advanced final and then dominated Priyanka Mehta in the Women's Singles Open final, winning 15-3.
Aarush Nitture secured the Men's Singles 19+ Advanced title with a convincing 11-2 victory against Varun Mittal. In women's doubles, Jueelee Chavan and Bhakti B claimed the Women's Doubles 19+ Advanced title by defeating Bindiya Aggarwal and Sameera Lala 11-5. The Women's Doubles Open final saw Gurleen Singh and Aahana Punjabi overcome Priyanka Mehta and Urvi Abhyankar 11-8, rounding out the list of Day 1 champions.
This tournament holds special significance as it marks the beginning of a broader Pickleball Now Grand Prix initiative aimed at bridging the gap from amateur to professional pickleball. The Grand Prix has teamed up with the Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), allowing select players to enter the IPBL Player Auction. This PWR 700-sanctioned series will span 13 cities, offering up to Rs 50 lakh in prize money and valuable ranking points.
IPBL franchises are closely monitoring the competition, providing players a chance to showcase their skills in front of teams scouting for new talent. Nitish Mittersain, Founder of Nazara Technologies, which owns Mumbai Smashers, expressed enthusiasm for the event, stating, "The sport of pickleball is rapidly gaining popularity in India, and we are thrilled to partner with the Pickleball Now Grand Prix to witness both seasoned and new talent compete for this prestigious title. It also allows us to scout potential players for our team. Best of luck to all participants!"
Following Mumbai, the Grand Prix will continue to Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Gurugram, Chennai, and Lucknow, with the Lucknow leg taking place in Noida, between August and September. The first day in Mumbai has already provided a glimpse of the competitive spirit and stakes involved in this series, with winners not only earning titles but also accumulating PWR ranking points and a potential pathway to the IPBL Player Auction.