Eeshan Chaudhury may still be in Class 11 at La Martiniere, but his schedule is already packed with school, travel, and long hours on court.
“Basically, I plan my schedule for the week, and then I choose the tournament for the month. Since I also have to manage my academics, I stop playing for some time before the half-yearly break. However, as a break, I enjoy tennis and other recreational activities, as I have a tennis court in my apartment. My main sport is tennis,” he said.
Pickleball, though, has quickly become more than a side sport. “When the ball becomes very fast while playing in front of the net, you have to be very reactive. Your reaction speed plays a crucial role, and you must remain agile and alert at all times. That motivated me to continue playing pickleball. I really enjoy the thrill in it,” the 16-year-old said in an interview with Pickleball Now.
For Eeshan, the most exciting part of the game comes in doubles. “Mainly I’m a singles player, but in doubles, what I enjoy the most is the firefights. Firefights are when you are volley to volley, playing from kitchen to kitchen, hitting the ball directly. I really enjoy playing that in doubles.”
He hasn’t had formal coaching yet, but that hasn’t slowed his progress. “Mr. Arup Malik corrected my technique, and then I drilled among my friends. Players who are better than I counsel me, and they guide me. I copy drills from YouTube and try to emulate the techniques of professional players. Tennis and pickleball go hand in hand for me, so when I practise tennis, my pickleball game automatically improves.”
Being a left-hander has added another layer to his development. “I’m a huge fan of Rafael Nadal and also Djokovic, but mainly Nadal. I imagine myself as a skilled tennis player. Since people are often surprised by left-handed players in tennis, the same is true in pickleball. I can place my shots better. I have more spin compared to others, and I also have a bit more strength, to be honest. The technical difficulty means there is a different technique for lefties and righties, so it becomes easier for me to dominate the court as a lefty.”
His immediate aim is precise. “I’ll try my best. I don’t know how tough the competition will be, but my main aim is to reach the finals and, of course, try to win. I’m playing juniors only since my half-yearly examinations are on, so the juniors are my main focus.”
For his classmates wondering why to pick up a paddle, Eeshan has a simple answer. “Pickleball is a stress buster, a perfect escape from studies. If you’re playing pickleball, your worries are reduced, and you can focus more on academics. If you are under-confident, it’s a good thing because pickleball is very easy to learn. And if you’re good at it, you can go forward in it.”
Inspired by Nadal, sharpened by firefights, and backed by his spin-heavy southpaw style, the schoolboy is carving out his own space in pickleball.
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.
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