Now Reading: Ludhiana player, 45, wins four medals at state pickleball meet
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Ludhiana player, 45, wins four medals at state pickleball meet
Amit Saxena, a 45-year-old pickleball player from Ludhiana, won four medals at the 3rd Punjab State Pickleball Championship, held from August 21 to 23 at Glamton Sports Club in Ludhiana. He secured…
Amit Saxena, a 45-year-old pickleball player from Ludhiana, won four medals at the 3rd Punjab State Pickleball Championship, held from August 21 to 23 at Glamton Sports Club in Ludhiana. He secured gold in the 40+ Men’s Singles, silver in the 35+ Men’s Singles and 35+ Men’s Doubles, and bronze in the 45+ Men’s Doubles.
Saxena had previously won bronze in 40+ Mixed Doubles at the IPA Nationals 2025 in Bengaluru. He also recorded strong results in DUPR tournaments this year, including gold in Open Doubles events. A former table tennis player, Saxena balances training with a six-day work week and credited his coaches and family for his consistency.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Pickleball, a sport blending tennis, badminton and table tennis, is newer to India than to the US, where it is among the fastest-growing recreations. The IPA Nationals draw serious amateur athletes, but the sport still lacks the structured state-level funding or public courts that established disciplines enjoy. Saxena's four medals across age categories signal depth beyond a single event. The DUPR tournaments he mentions are part of a private ranking system used by organisers to seed players globally. For a 45-year-old working professional, the balance between job and training remains the defining constraint, no state or central sports scheme currently subsidises pickleball at this level. The next milestone for his cohort is the IPA Nationals 2026, if the calendar holds.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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