The Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) has named its official contingent for the Pickleball World Cup 2026, with Arjun Singh, Veer Shah, and Naomi Amalsadiwala headlining the Under-18 and Under-14 rosters. The selections followed a highly competitive trial tournament held in Ahmedabad from 12 to 14 June 2025, which also served as the primary selection event.

Arjun Singh Dominates U18 Trials

Arjun Singh emerged as the standout performer in the Under-18 category at the Junior Pickleball Championship in Ahmedabad, clinching a triple crown — singles, boys' doubles, and mixed doubles. He partnered his brother Aditya Singh in the boys' doubles and teamed up with Naomi Amalsadiwala in mixed doubles, both of whom have earned their places in the Indian squad on merit.

Notably, the Singh brothers had already demonstrated their calibre on the international stage, having won the US Open earlier this year in the doubles category. The broader U18 squad also features Dev Shah, Purvansh Patel, Vivaan Patel, Ashritha Raju, and Diya Mattipati.

Veer Shah Captains the U14 Kids Contingent

Veer Shah has been named captain of the Under-14 squad after a dominant showing at the Ahmedabad championship, where he secured a triple crown of his own — winning singles, gender doubles, and mixed doubles in the U14 category. The squad under his leadership includes Viransh Chopra, Aarin Ballani, Mahika Rathod, Maansi Kartik, and Aashritaa S.

Aarin Ballani swept the U12 categories and claimed a silver medal in the U14 boys' doubles alongside Veer Shah. Mahika Rathod impressed in doubles, winning the girls' doubles and mixed doubles with Maansi Kartik and Veer Shah respectively.

What the IPA and Captains Said

Suryaveer Singh Bhullar, president of the Indian Pickleball Association, said the junior squad 'represents the absolute future of Indian Pickleball.' He added that following India's 'impressive performance at the last World Cup in Florida, these Under-14 and Under-18 athletes have been selected purely on merit and in exceptional form to lead our next generation on the global stage.'

Bhullar expressed confidence in the team's prospects at Da Nang, the host city for the 2026 edition, saying the squad would 'play with immense passion, carry the tricolor with pride, and inspire countless young kids back home to pick up a paddle.'

Captain Arjun Singh called the opportunity 'an honour that is unparalleled,' adding, 'To be named captain is a responsibility that I do not take lightly. The Indian squad looks extremely strong and we are confident that we will be able to better our result from the last time.'

High-Performance Camp Before Da Nang

Ahead of the World Cup, all selected athletes will undergo a structured high-performance development programme comprising intensive training camps. The curriculum will cover technical excellence, physical conditioning, mental resilience, and sports nutrition — a sign that the IPA is investing in long-term athlete development, not just short-term results.

With a US Open title already on the board and a wave of young talent peaking at the right time, India's pickleball prospects at Da Nang 2026 look stronger than at any previous World Cup.