“Pickleball has given me an identity of my own…..”

with Karishma Kalike

DOB:              2^nd June 1996

State:             Maharashtra

City:               Aurangabad

Club:              ZEN Academy 

“Pickleball has increased my mental stability, fitness and decision-making power.”

Karishma Kalike proudly announces that Pickleball has given her a healthy and confident life. Playing the game from 2015, Karishma has stamped her name as one of the leading ladies of Pickleball in India.      

“Mahesh Pardeshi sir was my Tennis coach. He first showed me Pickleball by introducing it as a new sport widely played in the US and Canada. He suggested me to play the sport as it is relatively easy than Tennis. I accepted his suggestion and started playing Pickleball.”

When Karishma Kalike started playing, there were only wooden paddles available. There were also limited players in the circuit. But after 5 years, she is proud to be a Pickleball player as the game has developed enormously in India.  

“Earlier we used to share Tennis, Basketball or Badminton courts. But now many dedicated Pickleball courts have been made. In Aurangabad, we practice regularly as players have increased. The wooden paddles have given way to advanced graphite paddles. The balls are also customised according to the need of the court. The accessories now are easier to get. So there’s a whole lot of progress in Pickleball India.”

Karishma Kalike is extremely happy to find a healthy number of women participating in the game. The number has just started to grow and she is hopeful that more women will come once they get the knowledge that this is a perfect game for them.

“I want to contribute towards the growth of pickleball among women. I am honoured that I have been chosen a member in the Women’s Empowerment Subcommittee of NGC-AIPA. Even I am part of the newly-formed Pickleball Association of Maharashtra. I want to organise more workshops and events for women in my city.”

As she wants to spread the game more among people, she also wishes to meet more people surrounding this beautiful game.

“I have met some wonderful people on my way and many of them are good friends of mine. Pickleball has given me that opportunity. Precisely, it has given me an identity of my own.”

MAJOR  ACHIEVEMENTS

• Gold Medal in Women’s Doubles at 1^st Senior Doubles Open Pickleball Tournament, 2016
• Gold Medal in Women’s Doubles at 4^th Senior National Pickleball Championship, 2016
• Bronze Medal in Women’s Singles at Mumbai Open Pickleball Championship, 2017
• Gold Medal in Women’s Doubles at Mumbai Open Pickleball Championship, 2017
• Silver Medal in Women’s Doubles at Indian Open, 2017
• Silver Medal in Women’s Doubles at Federation Cup Pickleball Championship, 2017
• Gold Medal in Women’s Doubles at 7^th Senior State Pickleball Championship, 2018
• Silver Medal in Women’s Doubles at Madhya Pradesh Open Pickleball Tournament, 2018
• Silver Medal in Mixed Doubles at Madhya Pradesh Open Pickleball Tournament, 2018
• Bronze Medal in Women’s Doubles at 5^th Senior National Pickleball Tournament,2018
• Bronze Medal in Women’s Doubles at Jaipur Open Pickleball Tournament, 2019
• Silver Medal in Women’s Singles at Jaipur Open Pickleball Tournament, 2019
• Gold Medal in Women’s doubles at 1^st JMDYC Open Pickleball Tournament, 2019