Mumbai Brothers Triumph at APP Kuala Lumpur Open in Under-18 Doubles
Mumbai's Young Pickleball Champions
On February 14, Mumbai's promising pickleball players, Arjun Singh and Aditya Singh, secured the Under-18 boys doubles championship at the APP Kuala Lumpur Open held in Malaysia. The duo triumphed over Pham Hoai Anh and Huynh Nguyen Duc Phat, winning the match in straight sets. They dominated the first game with an 11-4 score and narrowly clinched the second game 11-10, earning them the gold medal.
This victory represents a significant achievement for the Singh brothers, who are rapidly gaining recognition in the Indian pickleball scene. During an interview at the Pickleball Now Grand Prix 2026, held at the Otters Club, they shared their thoughts on their recent success. Although they did not secure another title in Mumbai, Arjun managed to earn a silver medal in the pro mixed doubles category.
Aditya expressed that their Under-18 gold is just the beginning of their journey. He stated, “We’re feeling great. Our hard work has paid off. But honestly, we’re not fully satisfied yet. Our ultimate aim was to win in the Open Pro category. That’s what we are working on.” Arjun echoed this sentiment, emphasizing their aspirations extend beyond junior competitions. “We trained a lot for this tournament and we’re happy with the result, but this is just one step. Our goal is much bigger. We want to win the Open category, so we’re pushing ourselves even harder.”
The brothers also discussed the challenges they faced while competing against Asian players and adapting to their unique playing styles. Aditya noted, “The opponents were very good. Competing in Asia was a different experience. Their game style and playing patterns are different from what we’re used to. They even use different paddles and balls, which made it challenging. It was tough, but we managed to adapt and win.” He highlighted that Asian players tend to favor a faster, more aggressive style of play, contrasting with the more controlled rallies typical in India.
'Need to play more Asian tournaments'
When asked about the differences in coaching, Aditya stressed the importance of gaining more exposure. “It’s not really coaching. We just need more exposure. We need to play more Asian tournaments and compete in more PPA and APP events to gain experience at that level.” The Singh brothers are familiar with high-stakes competitions, having participated in the Indian Pickleball League 2025 in New Delhi, where they played alongside seasoned professionals.
With their first major international junior title achieved, their focus now shifts to maintaining a presence on global circuits like the PPA Tour and APP Tour. For Arjun and Aditya, the Under-18 gold is merely the first step in their quest to dominate the Open stage.
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