India has achieved a landmark result at the 2026 Pickleball World Cup in Da Nang, Vietnam, finishing fourth among 82 participating nations with an impressive haul of 41 medals. The Indian contingent won seven gold, 17 silver and 17 bronze medals, marking a significant improvement over the country’s seventh-place finish at the previous edition.
The result is being seen as an important milestone for the rapidly growing sport in India. With players competing across age groups and categories, India’s performance demonstrated the country’s growing depth in pickleball and its increasing competitiveness on the international stage.
India Makes a Major Leap
India’s fourth-place finish represents a substantial improvement compared with its performance at the previous World Cup, where the country finished seventh. Reports also indicate that India previously collected 25 medals, making the 41-medal tally in Da Nang a notable jump.
The Indian delegation consisted of 48 athletes who competed in the Kids, Juniors, Open, Seniors and Masters team events. More than 130 Indian athletes also participated in individual categories during the tournament.
The broad representation across age groups was one of the most encouraging aspects of India’s campaign. From young junior players to experienced Masters competitors, Indian athletes contributed to the country’s medal tally.
41 Medals for India
India’s final medal tally was:
- 🥇 7 Gold Medals
- 🥈 17 Silver Medals
- 🥉 17 Bronze Medals
- 🏆 41 Medals Overall
- 🌍 4th Place among 82 Nations
The medal haul highlights the depth of Indian pickleball rather than dependence on a small number of players.
Several individual performances stood out during the competition. Purvansh Patel won gold in the Under-18 Boys’ Singles category, while Fayrouz Zaidi and Vivek Reddy claimed top honours in the 40+ women’s and men’s singles categories respectively. Kiran Salian also won gold in the 50+ Men’s Singles.
Bhushan Akut’s Golden Hat-Trick
One of the standout performances came from Bhushan Akut, who produced an exceptional showing in the 60+ categories.
Akut won three gold medals—in 60+ Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles alongside Ashok Rohira, and Mixed Doubles alongside Elizabeth Wilcox. His performance was one of the highlights of India’s individual campaign.
His achievement also demonstrates how pickleball is attracting players across generations. The sport’s accessibility and relatively low physical barriers compared with some other racket sports have helped it gain popularity among both younger and older players.
India’s Young Players Make Their Mark
The future of Indian pickleball was also on display in the junior and Kids categories.
The Indian Kids team won a silver medal, with the team led by Veer Shah. The squad included Viransh Chopra, Aarin Ballani, Mahika Rathod, Maansi Karthik, Aashritaa S, Kaveer Mehta and Praathnaa Motiani. Veer Shah was also recognised as the best captain in the Kids category.
The junior team finished fourth after losing to hosts Vietnam in the quarter-finals. The squad was led by Arjun Singh and included Aditya Singh, Dev Shah, Purvansh Patel, Vivan Patel, Naomi Amalsadiwala, Ashritha Raju and Diya Mattipati.
Although the junior team narrowly missed a medal, its performance provided valuable international experience for a group of young Indian players who could become important figures in the sport’s future.
Strong Individual and Team Performances
India’s Open team also faced a difficult path. The team, led by Harsh Mehta, reached the quarter-finals before losing 2–4 to the United States, which went on to reach the final. The Open squad included Arjun Singh, Anish Frolian, Aman Patel, Naomi Amalsadiwala, Pearl Amalsadiwala, Mihika Yadav and Aaliya Ebrahim.
Harsh Mehta nevertheless secured a bronze medal in the Open Pro Men’s Doubles category, adding another significant achievement to India’s overall tally.
The Masters team also reached the quarter-finals before losing to Vietnam, while India’s Seniors team exited in the Round of 16 after a defeat against New Zealand.
These results underline the competitiveness of the tournament and the challenge of progressing deep into team events against some of the world’s strongest pickleball nations.
A Significant Moment for Indian Pickleball
The result is particularly important because pickleball is still a relatively young sport in India compared with established disciplines such as cricket, badminton, tennis and table tennis.
The 2026 World Cup performance provides evidence that Indian players are increasingly capable of competing at a high international level.
The Indian Pickleball Association’s CEO, Aditya Khanna, described the fourth-place finish as a major statement and congratulated the entire contingent for its performance. He also indicated that the organisation’s next focus would be strengthening grassroots pickleball in India and creating opportunities for more players to compete internationally.
Focus Shifts to Grassroots Development
The next challenge for Indian pickleball will be turning this international success into long-term development.
Grassroots programmes can play an important role in identifying talented young players, providing structured coaching and creating competitive opportunities outside major cities.
Schools, colleges, sports academies and community facilities could all contribute to the sport’s expansion. Increased access to courts, trained coaches and national-level competitions would help build a larger talent pool.
The success in Vietnam could also encourage greater investment from sponsors, sporting organisations and private academies.
What India’s Fourth Place Means
Finishing fourth among 82 nations is more than a medal statistic. It signals that Indian pickleball is developing across multiple age groups and competitive categories.
The country’s 41-medal haul, including seven golds, shows that Indian players can compete successfully in both youth and senior divisions. The silver medal from the Kids team and multiple individual golds further demonstrate the breadth of the country’s talent.
For a sport experiencing rapid growth in India, international results like these can have a powerful effect. They can inspire young athletes to take up pickleball, encourage parents to consider it as a competitive sport and motivate institutions to invest in training and infrastructure.
A New Benchmark for India
India’s fourth-place finish at the 2026 Pickleball World Cup has created a new benchmark for the country’s players and administrators.
The improvement from seventh to fourth place, combined with the rise from 25 medals to 41, reflects significant progress.
However, the achievement also raises expectations. The goal will now be to close the gap with the leading nations and eventually challenge for a place on the podium in the overall standings.
With a combination of young talent, experienced players, stronger grassroots development and greater international exposure, India has an opportunity to establish itself as one of the world’s leading pickleball nations.
Conclusion
India’s 41-medal performance at the 2026 Pickleball World Cup is a landmark achievement for the sport. Finishing fourth among 82 nations, with seven gold, 17 silver and 17 bronze medals, represents a major step forward from the previous edition.
From the Kids team’s silver medal to Purvansh Patel’s junior gold and Bhushan Akut’s three-gold performance, the tournament showcased talent across generations.
The immediate achievement is worth celebrating, but the bigger opportunity lies ahead: building a stronger grassroots system and creating the next generation of Indian pickleball champions.
India has made its mark in Da Nang. The next target is to climb even higher.