Arjun Singh and Aditya Singh secured India’s first gold medal at the ongoing US Open Pickleball Championship 2026 by defeating top seeds Ryder Brown and Soli Messiri in straight sets in the U-18 boys’ doubles category in Naples, Florida. The Indian duo dominated the final with an 11-1, 11-5 victory, outclassing the favorites to clinch the title in their debut appearance at the tournament. Naga Moksha also contributed to India’s success by winning a bronze medal in the women’s singles category after a closely contested match.
The victorious pair, Arjun Singh & Aditya Singh, expressed their joy, calling the achievement extremely special and thanking their supporters and associations for the opportunity. This edition of the championship marked India’s first participation at the US Open Pickleball Championship under the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA). President of the Indian Pickleball Association, Mr. Suryaveer Singh Bhullar, hailed the historic victory as a statement of India’s prowess in global pickleball, predicting that India’s first Olympic gold might come from the pickleball courts.
In the U-18 boys’ doubles category, the Indian contingent featured three pairings, including Arjun Singh/Aditya Singh, Jeet Sood/Yuvraj Singh, and Panth Thakkar/Atharva Sheth, who were considered underdogs due to their first-time participation. Panth Thakkar and Atharva Sheth impressed with a top-eight finish, while Jeet Sood and Yuvraj Singh exited in the round of 32. The Indian players received direct entry into the US Open, a significant step for the sport in India, through a partnership between the national federation and the organizers.
Purvansh Patel qualified for the Pro Doubles main draw and will compete on Monday, while other Indian players like Mihika Yadav, Dhiren Patel, and Suryaveer Singh Bhullar will start their campaigns later in the tournament.
