Vrushali Thakare and Vanshik Kapadia, India’s pickleball power duo, are smashing stereotypes and winning medals while dreaming big for the sport. They see pickleball’s age and gender-agnostic inclusivity as the secret sauce behind its rapid rise, even envisioning it paddling its way to the 2032 Olympics. Vrushali, who transitioned from badminton to pickleball and rose to the top, teams up with Vanshik, a pickleball prodigy hooked on the sport since childhood, to dominate the court.
Pickleball is the game everyone’s talking about these days. Mixing the best bits of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, this paddle sport is on a rapid rise, and even celebrities are hopping on the bandwagon, swinging their paddles to stay fit. The game is gaining a global following, but India is quickly catching up. Just last month, tennis legend Andre Agassi also visited India to promote the sport in India.
The dynamic pair recently struck gold in the 19+ open mixed doubles at the Hong Kong leg of the World Pickleball Championship, building on India’s medal streak from the India leg last November, where the country claimed 28 medals, including 11 golds. Both Vrushali and Vanshik will participate in the inaugural World Pickleball League, scheduled for January 2025. While Vrushali was selected by the Bengaluru franchise during the player draft, Vanshik will represent Pune. A total of 48 players were chosen by the six teams under the close guidance of the league. Players from 14 countries will grace the court as the WPBL kicks off on January 24, 2025.
VRUSHALI BREAKS SOCIAL BARRIERS VIA PICKLEBALL
Nicknamed “Hammer Thakare,” Vrushali Thakare has overcome numerous challenges to become one of India’s leading pickleball players. Known for her sharp anticipatory skills, Vrushali began her journey in the small town of Jalgaon, Maharashtra. Despite societal pressure to pursue a teaching career, she chose to follow her passion for sports.
“At the end of 2017, my coach Bhupendra Pal, who initially taught table tennis, introduced me to pickleball. He had seen the sport and suggested, “Try it out; it’s a good sport. If you like it, you can continue, or else leave it.” At that time, I was playing badminton and had been a university-level badminton player for four years. I decided to give pickleball a shot, and three months after starting, there was a tournament in Jalgaon. Players from various states were participating. My coach encouraged me to play, saying, “You might perform well.” I participated and won gold in doubles and silver in mixed doubles. After that, my coach told me to continue because I was doing well, and that’s how my pickleball journey began,” Vrushali Thakare said in an exclusive interview with IndiaToday.in.
However, starting from a remote area was not without its challenges. “Coming from a remote area, we faced significant challenges. We didn’t have paddles or balls. Our coach had wooden paddles made by a carpenter, which didn’t even have proper grips and were hard to hold. Balls weren’t available in India then, so we used smiley balls to play. Thankfully, our college had two badminton courts. We lowered the nets and used them for pickleball. Today, the situation has improved. Wooden paddles are available for as little as Rs 250, and a ball can last a week on a decent surface. So now, even kids in remote areas can afford to play pickleball,”Vrushali explained.
In 2021, Vrushali and her mixed doubles partner Ajay Choudhary established the Thakare Pickleball Academy in Pune. With two courts funded from their own earnings, the academy has since trained over 200 players, including five juniors who represented India at the Junior Championship in Vietnam. ” At that time, pickleball was relatively unknown in the city, and there weren’t any courts. We invested our earnings from pickleball to build two courts and began training players. In just two years, we coached over 200 players, including five juniors who were selected to represent India in the Junior Championship in Vietnam. It’s been incredible to see the sport grow and gain recognition. Pickleball is a sport for everyone. At our academy, we’ve trained players as young as five and as old as 80. I remember a 72-year-old woman from a nearby building who used to watch the games. She was so inspired that she decided to join us, saying, “I want to learn and play too.”
Vrushali explains how the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) has played a key role in promoting the sport nationwide, organizing tournaments and providing players with essential resources. As pickleball rapidly gains popularity, with tennis courts in housing societies being converted for the game, it mirrors the sport’s growth in the US. With this momentum, pickleball could soon rank among India’s top sports.
“The Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) has played a significant role in the sport’s growth. When I started, IPA was already organizing tournaments, providing exposure and experience for players. Today, they continue to support players with equipment and resources. Their efforts have been instrumental in popularising pickleball across India.”
“Pickleball is growing rapidly in India, just as it has in the US. In many housing societies, tennis courts are being converted into pickleball courts. With such expansion, I believe pickleball can become the second or third most popular sport in India in the next five years. To aspiring players, I would say: play because you enjoy it. If you love the sport, it will give back to you in ways you can’t imagine. Whether it’s pickleball or any other sport, passion and joy will take you far.”
VANSHIK HOPES PICKLEBALL REACHES OLYMPICS
At just 19 years old, Vanshik Kapadia made a formidable presence in pickleball. Transitioning from tennis, a sport he began playing at the age of six, Vanshik found his true calling in pickleball in 2018. Today, he holds the prestigious rank of No. 1 in both Asia and India. Reflecting on his journey, Vanshik shared, “I started playing pickleball when I was six years old, and in 2018, I began playing professionally. My journey began at my home club, Khar Gymkhana, where I hit my first pickleball shot. It was my dad who introduced me to the sport, and from that moment, there was no looking back. I fell in love with pickleball the instant I played my first shot. That’s how it all started, and I decided then and there that this was the path I wanted to pursue.”
Despite competing on the global stage, Vanshik’s calm and focused demeanour sets him apart. “I don’t see pressure as a hindrance. It’s all about focusing on what’s within your control. External factors are just distractions,” he explained.
As an advocate for the sport’s growth, Vanshik is optimistic about pickleball’s potential to reach new heights. “Regarding the sport and my involvement, I’ve been associated with the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) for the past two years. It has been an incredible journey of growth, both in the game and in life,” he said.
Looking ahead, Vanshik expressed his excitement for the upcoming World League, set to take place in January. “It’s going to be a huge event with celebrities attending, and I believe pickleball is on its way to becoming a global sensation,” he noted. With the sport’s growing popularity, Vanshik’s ultimate dream is to see pickleball included in the 2032 Olympics. “I hope it gets included, which would be a dream come true for the sport and its players.”
