India Set to Compete in 2026 Pickleball World Cup in Vietnam
India's Participation in the Pickleball World Cup
The Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) has received an official invitation to participate in the upcoming Pickleball World Cup, which will take place in Da Nang, Vietnam, from August 30 to September 6, marking the first time this prestigious event is hosted in Asia. Team India will compete in five categories: Open, Senior, Junior, Kids, and Master.
In a letter from the Pickleball World Cup Organizing Committee, they expressed their excitement about welcoming Team India to the 2026 Heineken Pickleball World Cup. They confirmed India's participation in various categories and extended a special invitation for the delegation to join the Parade of Nations on September 2, 2026.
The IPA has clarified its role as the official National Sports Federation (NSF) for pickleball in India, addressing misinformation regarding the representation of Indian players at the World Cup. An IPA representative stated, "The official Indian national teams for the Pickleball World Cup are being selected solely by the IPA. Any claims of other teams representing India are misleading."
To further validate their position, the IPA has already announced an eight-member squad for the Open event, led by Harsh Mehta, alongside players like Arjun Singh and Mihika Yadav. Following the recent Junior Pickleball Championship in Ahmedabad, the IPA also revealed the Kids and Junior squads, with Arjun Singh and Veer Shah as captains, respectively. The announcement for the 50+ and 60+ categories is expected soon.
In the previous Pickleball World Cup held in Florida in 2025, India, competing under the IPA, achieved a commendable seventh place, securing a total of 25 medals, including 8 gold, 8 silver, and 9 bronze.
Indian Squads for the 2026 Pickleball World Cup
Open Squad: Harsh Mehta (captain), Arjun Singh, Anish Frolian, Aman Patel, Mihika Yadav, Aaliyah Ebrahim, Pearl Amalsadiwala, Naomi Amalsadiwala.
Under-18 (Junior) Squad: Captained by Arjun Singh, includes Aditya Singh, Dev Shah, Naomi Amalsadiwala, Purvansh Patel, Vivaan Patel, Ashritha Raju, Diya Mattipati.
Under-14 (Kids) Squad: Captained by Veer Shah, includes Viransh Chopra, Aarin Ballani, Mahika Rathod, Maansi Kartik, Aashritaa S.