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Pickleball fever serves up a smash hit in Mumbai
MUMBAI: Pickleball didn’t just bounce into Mumbai last week, it smashed its way into the spotlight. Season 2 of the Pro & Challenger Pickleball League, staged alongside India’s Biggest Pickleball Grand Slam 2025, wrapped up with packed stands, five-set thrillers and a clear message: the sport has arrived, and it means business.
Hosted at the TSG x Global Sports Pickleball Center at Andheri Sports Complex, the week-long showcase by Global Sports Pickleball brought together players, team owners and fans in what is now being billed as the biggest pickleball event ever held in Asia.
The finals delivered edge-of-the-seat drama. In the Pro League, Hyderabad Vikings pulled off a stunning comeback, overturning a 0–2 deficit to beat Bengaluru Blazers 3–2 and lift the title, with Ahmedabad Olympians finishing third. The Challenger League proved just as tense, as Delhi Snipers edged Mumbai Chhatrapati Warriors 3–2, while Jaipur Stallions claimed third place.
Individual brilliance was also in focus. Randy Blanco of Hyderabad Vikings was named Most Valuable Player of the Pro League, while Asmi Sapra of Delhi Snipers took home MVP honours in the Challenger League.
Beyond the league battles, India’s Biggest Pickleball Grand Slam underlined the sport’s rapid expansion. More than 3,600 matches were played across the week, featuring 1,500 players from 16 countries and 26 Indian states, numbers that place the tournament among the largest pickleball competitions held in the country to date.
The Pro category winners reflected the event’s global flavour, Quang Duong and Harsh Mehta won Pro Men’s Doubles, Megan Fudge and Roos Van Reek topped Pro Women’s Doubles, Sofia Sewing and Casey Diamond claimed Pro Mixed Doubles, Sewing added the Pro Women’s Singles title, and Ronan Jack Camron took Pro Men’s Singles.
Adding to the festival atmosphere were appearances by Bollywood figures and league partners, including filmmaker Shashank Khaitan, who described the league as “a celebration of community and inclusivity” rather than just competition. Global Sports Pickleball chief architect for Pickleball growth Hemal Jain said Season 2 showed how quickly the sport is evolving into a “dynamic, inclusive and truly competitive” arena in India.
The league featured 100 players from nine countries and was broadcast on Zee5, Zee Café and &flix, with global live-streaming on Youtube amplifying reach far beyond the courts.
With energetic crowds, international talent and rising Indian stars sharing centre stage, the Mumbai finale served up more than trophies. It marked a defining moment for pickleball’s journey in India and suggested this is one rally that’s only just getting started.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
