“Pickleball has made some of the most amazing changes in me…….”

with Aniket Pramod Durgawali

DOB:              21^st July 1995

State:             Maharashtra

City:               Mumbai

Club:              Club CK, Club NX 

Aniket Durgawali, at a certain point of time, was a Cricket fanatic just as any other Indian. He devoted much time to Cricket in his school and later in his college. But in 2013, when Chetan Kate, brought Pickleball  to M.L. Dahanukar College, everything changed for Aniket.

“Cricket was my favourite sport. Other than that I played Badminton and Table Tennis. But my life changed when I started playing Pickleball in 2013. It has brought some amazing changes in me, both physically and mentally. The most important lesson that I learned from Pickleball is how to be patient.”

As Aniket learned some valuable lifeskills from Pickleball, it brought him results on the court. From the initial tournaments of Pickleball till in those of today, Aniket has been a regular participant. He has won several medals in district, state as well as national level competitions.  

“When people ask my parents about their son, they proudly say that he is a national-level Pickleball player. They are very happy that I represent Maharashtra in nationals.”

Aniket believes that there is no elevator in life; all have to take stairs to be successful. So, in spite of being around from almost the beginning, Aniket does not skip his practice. He likes to play with Gearbox Eight Pro and Prolite Crush paddles. But according to him, improvement does not always depend on the best gears but ‘practice that makes a man perfect.’

“I can’t live without Pickleball now. It has given me so many friends around the world. It has also made me confident to take up sport as my career. I am now the head coach of Enjoy-a-Ball Sports Children;’s Academy at Vile Parle and Andheri. I feel very happy that I could take my passion as my profession.”

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

District:

• Gold Medal in Men’s Doubles at 1^st District Level Tournament, 2013-14
• Gold Medal in Mixed Doubles at 2^nd District Level Tournament, 2014-15
• Gold Medal in Men’s Singles at 2^nd District Level Tournament, 2014-15
• Gold Medal in Mixed Doubles at 3^rd District Level Tournament, 2015-16
• Gold Medal in Men’s Singles at 3^rd District Level Tournament, 2015-16
• Silver Medal in Men’s Doubles at 5^th District Level Tournament, 2017-18

State:

• Gold Medal in Men’s Doubles at 1^st State Level Tournament, 2013-14
• Bronze Medal in Men’s Singles at 2^nd State Level Tournament, 2014-15
• Silver Medal in Men’s Singles at 4^th State Level Tournament, 2016-17

National:

• Bronze Medal in Men’s Singles at 2^nd National Level Tournament, 2014-15
• Silver Medal in Men’s Singles at 4^th National Level Tournament, 2016-17

Others:

• Silver Medal in Men’s Singles at Krushetra College Fest, 2013-14
• Silver Medal in Men’s Singles at Khar Gymkhana Tournament, 2014-15
• Silver Medal in Men’s Doubles at Lion’s Club Fiesta Championship, 2014-15
• Gold Medal in Men’s Doubles at Khar Gymkhana Tournament, 2015-16
• Silver Medal in Men’s Singles at Khar Gymkhana Tournament, 2014-15
• Silver Medal in Men’s Singles at Khar Gymkhana Tournament, 2014-15
• Silver Medal in Mixed Doubles at Krushetra College Fest, 2015-16
• Gold Medal in Men’s Doubles at Krushetra College Fest, 2015-16
• Gold Medal in Men’s singles at Krushetra College Fest, 2015-16
• Bronze Medal in Men’s Doubles at Mumbai open Championship, 2017-18
• Gold Medal in Men’s Singles at Mumbai open Championship, 2017-18
• Silver Medal in Mixed Doubles at 8^th Parle Mahotsav, 2017-18
• Gold Medal in Mixed Doubles at 9^th Parle Mahotsav, 2018-19
• Silver Medal in Men’s Doubles at 9^th Parle Mahotsav, 2018-19
• Member of Silver Medal Winning Team at 1^st Pickleball Super League, 2018-19