The Rise Up Championship – Pickleball By The Bay 2025 got underway at the VGP Golden Beach Resort in Chennai with a flurry of results across mixed, women’s, and men’s doubles.
India’s first-ever beachside pickleball event and its inaugural PWR 1000 tournament lived up to the hype, bringing together the country’s top-ranked players in a high-stakes knockout format.
In the mixed doubles, fans witnessed both comfortable wins and nail-biters. Himansh Mehta and Snehal Kishor Patil opened with a commanding 15-5 win, while Priyanka Mehta and Tejas Gulati edged through 13-10 in one of the closest battles of the day. Kasturi Vighne and Spandan P V also survived a tense finish, prevailing 15-14. Meanwhile, Ammol Rajesh Ramchandani and Mihika Sanjoy Yadav impressed with a dominant 15-2 victory, and the pairing of Dhiren Patel and Rakshika Ravi advanced 15-7.
Women’s doubles delivered equally strong performances. Sisters Pearl and Naomi Nozer Amalsadiwala combined seamlessly for a 15-3 win, while Kavya J and Prerana Prathap powered through 15-4. Indian squash star Joshna Chinappa, partnering Niranthara Muthiah, registered a smooth 15-3 win. Rakshika Ravi teamed up with Sindoor Mittal to secure a 15-4 result, while Gurleen Singh and Mihika Yadav stormed to a 15-1 finish.
In the men’s doubles, the competition intensified. Divyanshu Kataria and Ronav Paresh Motiani registered a flawless 15-0, as did Aman Kartikeya Patel and Ratnam Kaushal Shah, and later Himansh Mehta with Rohan Nitin Gajjar. Tennis veteran Prajnesh Gunneswaran partnered Venkatesh Nagarajan in a hard-fought 12-8 win. Elsewhere, Arik Anis Badami and Arunav Majumder Majumder survived a 15-12 thriller, while Dhiren Patel and Suraj Desai held off their opponents 15-11.
For many players, the setting itself was part of the charm. “We’re playing by the sea, with Chennai’s filter coffee and food culture just around the corner-this is what makes pickleball so unique,” said Mihika Yadav, India’s No.1 women’s singles player. Rakshika Ravi added, “Pickleball is addictive, and more tournaments like this help players compete with the best and grow.”
To round off the day, fans and athletes soaked in live DJ performances after sunset, blending competitive sport with festival energy.
About Indian Pickleball Association:
The Indian Pickleball Association is the official governing body for pickleball in India and is dedicated to promoting, developing, and organising the sport across the country. The association continues to inspire players of all ages and skill levels to embrace the game through events like the IPA Nationals. IPA is affiliated with the Asian Pickleball Association (APA) and the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF).
About Pickleball World Ranking:
PWR is a national ranking system that spans all age groups, skill divisions, and formats -including singles, doubles, and mixed categories. It serves as the official National Sports Federation Ranking for India. With multiple sanctioned events taking place every week across the country, PWR defines the top Indian players at every level and forms the foundation for team selection at the school, district, state, and national stages.