India names junior captains for Pickleball World Cup in Vietnam

India has put Arjun Singh and Veer Shah at the front of its junior pickleball push, naming them captains of the U-18 and U-14 teams for the Pickleball World Cup in Da Nang, Vietnam. The selections followed trials in Ahmedabad from June 12 to June 14 and underline how fast the sport is moving from casual growth into a formal youth pathway. For the pickleball travel scene, that shift matters because the next wave of destination events is increasingly being built around junior brackets, national team travel, and international competition.

The U-18 squad will travel with Arjun Singh, Aditya Singh, Naomi Amalsadiwala, Dev Shah, Purvansh Patel, Vivaan Patel, Ashritha Raju and Diya Mattipati. Veer Shah will lead the U-14 group, which includes Viransh Chopra, Aarin Ballani, Mahika Rathod, Maansi Kartik and Aashritaa S. The roster depth is the clearest signal in the selection: India is not leaning on two standout captains alone, but on two age-group teams that already look built for broader development.

That structure has been developing quickly. The Indian Pickleball Association was officially recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports as the country’s National Sports Federation for pickleball in 2025, giving it authority over rankings, tournaments and player development. Earlier that year, the 4th IPA Nationals in Greater Noida drew more than 500 players from more than 20 states and used 14 international-standard courts, evidence that the sport’s competitive base is already expanding beyond a handful of hubs.

The junior selection also comes against the backdrop of India’s first official Pickleball World Cup campaign. In Florida, India finished seventh overall with 25 medals, and reports from that event said the country was the only Asian nation in the top 10. Some accounts also credited India’s junior contingent with bronze, which helps explain the confidence around this year’s group. IPA president Suryaveer Singh Bhullar has described the World Cup as a starting point for young Indian players to test themselves against the best junior talent in the world and to inspire more children at home to pick up a paddle.

The 2026 World Cup runs from August 30 to September 6 in Da Nang, with play expected at the Tiên Sơn Sports Centre and other city venues. Organizers expect around 4,000 athletes from more than 80 countries and territories, putting India’s junior captains into a much bigger global moment than a routine selection. For Arjun Singh and Veer Shah, the road from Ahmedabad now leads to a tournament that reflects where pickleball is heading next.