# IPA Junior Nationals 2026 announced; India third in World Cup seeds 2026-08-14T09:03:18+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) has scheduled the IPA Junior Nationals 2026 from December 18 to 20 at Dinkers Pickleball Academy in Ahmedabad. The tournament will feature four age categories for boys and girls: Under-12, Under-14, Under-16, and Under-18. Separately, India has been seeded third in the Kids and Juniors categories at the Pickleball World Cup, based on average DUPR ratings. Hosts Vietnam top both categories, followed by the United States. India's junior squad earned bronze in the Juniors category in 2025. The IPA, recognised as India's national sports federation for pickleball under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, organises these events. Results from the Junior Nationals feed into national team selection, as seen with players selected for the World Cup. The competition continues India's rapid growth in the sport. ## Coverage - timesnownews.com - timesnownews.com Tags: Ahmedabad, Indian Pickleball Association, junior nationals, national selection, pickleball, youth sports Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/ipa-junior-nationals-2026-set-for-ahmedabad-in-december/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/ipa-junior-nationals-2026-set-for-ahmedabad-in-december/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.