At the Pickleball Now Grand Prix 2025, the husband-wife duo of Kasturi Vighne and Spandan PV stood out for more than just their title-winning run.
Off the court, Spandan is a veterinarian by profession, while Kasturi works in a fintech company. On the court, they’ve found a way to blend marriage, coaching, and competition into a winning formula.
Kasturi says her growth as a player is tied to Spandan’s guidance. “I started playing football in 2018. But after I got married to Spandan, he became my coach. I’ve improved a lot in the technical aspects of the game. We’ve been training together for almost two years now. We practise daily in the mornings. On court, he definitely rules. Off court, I rule,” she told in an exclusive chat with Pickleball Now/
Training is built on discipline. “We do more drills than matches. Drilling is repeating shots again and again until you get muscle memory. For example, if I have to work on a third-shot drop, I’ll enact that shot again and again. At least one hour daily, we put into practice,” she explained.
But competing as a married couple hasn’t always been smooth. “They say couples shouldn’t play together because they fight on court. That was true for us too. We used to end up fighting a lot, so we stopped playing together. Then Spandan decided one of us would be the captain. Only the captain speaks, and the other goes completely mute. I am the one who goes quiet and just listen to him. On court, he is my coach and I am his student. We are not husband and wife when we play.”
She admits that maturity is key. “If both partners are very competitive, I wouldn’t suggest they play together. You have to be mature enough to leave a loss behind on the court and not carry it home. Otherwise, it affects your relationship. But if you have understanding, there’s no problem.”
Interestingly, an injury prompted Kasturi to re-pair with her husband. “I strained my ankle three months ago and felt I had become a liability. Nobody would want to partner with me, so I asked Spandan. That’s how we started again. He coached me well, and now we’ve been playing tournaments back-to-back and getting good results.”
The couple also rely on a unique “code language” during matches. “Spandan has technical words he uses when coaching. For example, he’ll say ‘stand at seventh’ and I know that means two feet away from the baseline. It’s about where I should be for the third or fifth shot. Opponents don’t understand it, but it works for us. We avoid hand signals or eye movements, because those can be picked up.”
Beyond her own story, Kasturi highlighted the role of the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) in shaping the sport. “IPA is playing a very good role in the growth of pickleball in India. They’ve formed state associations that are bringing in 100-200 players in each state. In Bangalore, the KPA has been formed under IPA. These bodies are taking initiatives to help players perform at their best. IPA is definitely playing a major role.”
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.
Stay connected with all the latest news on Pickleball, exclusive behind-the-scenes content, tips, and inspiration you won’t find anywhere else. Your ultimate destination for all things pickleball – where the community comes together for news, views, and the sport that’s sweeping the globe.