Pickleball might have boomed in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic but how it spread to other parts of the world has been impeccable, to say the least. While it might seem that the sport is just finding its foot in India, a word or two with amateur players would say that it is almost a part of their daily life, which helps them stay fit and is also a great leisurely activity.
Pickleball Now spoke to Meha Shah, a 23-year-old graphic designer from Mumbai, on the sidelines of the PWR DUPR India Masters, which is on its final day on Sunday, October 27. The youngster spoke on how she took to the sport, how she sees pickleball's growth in India and what is it like to train with Armaan Bhatia and Harsh Mehta, two of India's biggest pickleball stars.
When and how did you start playing pickleball?
I began playing the sport when I was 21 years old. Many of my friends were very invested in this and saw them enjoy it. I used to attend tournaments as an audience when I started liking it and eventually began playing it. I play with Blaze Pickleball, where Harsh (Mehta) and Armaan (Bhatia) train us.
Have you played any racquet sports before, or is this your first time?
I was a gymnast for 10 and a half years and this is the first time that I am playing a racquet sport.
How has the PWR DUPR India Masters been? How is the atmosphere?
It has been amazing till now and the place is nice, with great arrangements. It is an actual tournament and not just a random, amateur venture. It has been good and exciting and I am waiting for the finals eagerly. The Centre Court is very good.
Since you train under Armaan and Harsh who are in the same age group as you, what does training entail for you?
I practice in the PRO batch which is for three hours a day, five days a week. We are a big group of 15 people who keep doing a lot of drills. Practising with them is like training with friends but with a lot of respect. Everything that they say matters to us and we follow everything that they ask us to. The conversations are not very formal but there is a certain amount of respect in them.
Armaan is playing three finals today. So when you see him play not just in training but in practice as well, do you pick up some tricks of the trade?
Yes, definitely. Every time Armaan and Harsh play, I can see them do something new. We just want to learn everything that they do, which is quite hard but we try to do it.
How do you manage work and pickleball?
I work as a graphic designer and thankfully, I don't have to attend the office every day and I can work from home. So I use up my lunch breaks for playing pickleball. I go on to work late nights if needed and play pickleball during the day.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as well as the sport?
Personally, I don't know if I will be in the sport five years from now. I hope I keep on playing because I enjoy it a lot. It helps me keep myself fit and my mind fresh. The sport, though, is going to boom for sure. The way it is growing, it will not stop anytime soon.
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