Ludhiana man shines at national pickleball championship

In a remarkable achievement, Amit Saxena, a corporate professional with Nippon Audiotronix and a seasoned table tennis player from Ludhiana, has brought pride to his state by winning a bronze medal in the 40-plus mixed doubles category at the IPA Nationals-2025. The championship, organised by the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) and affiliated with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), was held in Bengaluru from November 13 to November 16.

Teaming up with Richa, Saxena secured the bronze medal, leveraging his extensive experience in table tennis — a sport in which he has won multiple championships. In the 40-plus men’s doubles category, Saxena and his partner made it to the top 16 teams, further highlighting his prowess in pickleball. “Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in India, and this achievement underscores its rising popularity,” said Saxena.

Reflecting on his journey, Saxena shared the challenges he faced: “Balancing my six-day work week with training was a major hurdle, but my passion for sports kept me going. I also emphasised the need for quality coaching — a good teacher is essential to achieving one’s goals.” Despite these obstacles, Saxena’s dedication and hard work paid off, earning him the coveted bronze medal.

Offering advice to aspiring athletes, he said, “More practice, focus and dedication are the keys to success. If you put in honest efforts, results will follow.”

Amit Saxena, son of Dr Arvind Saxena, a retired senior scientist from Punjab Agricultural University, and Meena Saxena, a former teacher at Sacred Heart School, BRS Nagar, was accompanied by his wife Arohi Saxena to Bengaluru, who provided unwavering support and motivation. His achievement has made Punjab proud and serves as an inspiration to many young athletes, reaffirming pickleball’s growing prominence in India.