Maharashtra wins both team titles at 10th AIPA National Pickleball Championship in Kochi
Maharashtra dominated the 10th AIPA National Pickleball Championship in Kochi, clinching both the Junior/Senior and Veteran Championship trophies.
Maharashtra asserted its dominance on the national stage by clinching both major titles at the 10th AIPA National Pickleball Championship 2026. Held in Kochi from October 1 to 4, the tournament saw fierce competition across various age groups, but the powerhouse from Maharashtra proved unmatched in securing the top honors.
Maharashtra Dominates Both Major Trophies
The championship, hosted by the Federation of Pickleball Associations of Kerala (FPAK), featured athletes from across the country competing in Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles categories. The talent pool spanned nine different age divisions, ranging from the Under-10 category to the 60+ veteran group.
In the Junior/Senior Championship Trophy, Maharashtra secured a commanding victory with a massive medal haul of:
- 12 Gold Medals
- 11 Silver Medals
- 8 Bronze Medals
Madhya Pradesh finished as the first runners-up with 5 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze medals, while Tamil Nadu took the second runner-up spot with 3 gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze.
The success continued in the Veteran Championship, where Maharashtra once again emerged as the winners. Their veteran squad brought home 7 gold, 3 silver, and 5 bronze medals. Karnataka claimed the first runner-up position with 4 gold, 7 silver, and 3 bronze, while Madhya Pradesh rounded out the top three as the second runner-up.
Breakdown of Age Category Champions
Under-10 and Under-12 Highlights
The youngest stars showed incredible skill, with Maharashtra making significant inroads early on. In the U-10 category:
- Boys Singles: Aaryav Desai (MAH) took gold, defeating Rela Parimi (AP).
- Boys Doubles: Agastya Shah and Mahir (MAH) secured the top spot.
- Girls Singles: Sandra Samson (TN) claimed gold, with Kiana Tushar Parekh (MAH) taking silver.
- Girls Doubles: Deeya Sambari and Kiana Tushar Parekh (MAH) won gold.
- Mixed Doubles: Deeya Sambari and Mahir Desai (MAH) emerged victorious.
In the U-12 category, the competition was equally intense:
- Boys Singles: Hridan Goenka (CG) claimed the title.
- Boys Doubles: Mohd. Asad and Shishir Bobilli (MP) took gold.
- Girls Singles: Ganithra Yogamani (TN) won the championship.
- Girls Doubles: Ganithra Yogamani and Sandra Samson (TN) dominated.
- Mixed Doubles: Shivaanya Pardesi and Vishwajeet Phalke (MAH) secured the gold.
U-14 to U-18 Results
As the age groups increased, the competition grew even tougher. In the U-14 division, Vidit Panwar (RAJ) won Boys Singles, while Sanchi Khillare (MAH) took the Girls Singles title. The Mixed Doubles saw victory for Shrihari Shathayu and Likhita Reddy Kolli (KAR).
In the U-16 category, Md. Hanain (KER) won Boys Singles, and Aardhya Satpute (MAH) claimed the Girls Singles gold. The Girls Doubles saw a Maharashtra sweep with Sarrah Hakim and Aaradhya Satpute taking the title.
The U-18 category saw Vishal Nishad (CG) winning Boys Singles and Dishita Banthia (MP) winning Girls Singles. Maharashtra's Jinisha Kshirsagar and Nikita Sonawane secured the Girls Doubles gold, while Laksh Khillare and Sanchi Khillare (MAH) won the Mixed Doubles.
18+ Open Category Standings
The championship concluded with the high-stakes 18+ Open category. The winners included:
- Men’s Singles: Deepak Paswan (JHAR)
- Men’s Doubles: Utkarsh Dubey and Aashutosh Mehta (RAJ)
- Women’s Singles: Sara Yadav (MP)