Shaks Devnani wins Maharashtra Open 2026 women’s 50+ title in Mumbai

Shaks Devnani’s 50+ women’s singles title at the Maharashtra Open 2026 was more than a bracket win. By beating Unaiza Punjabi in the final at Andheri Sports Complex in Mumbai on Friday, May 1, Devnani helped put older women’s pickleball squarely into the tournament’s center, not on its margins.

The final fit the way veteran singles is often decided: not by raw pace, but by patience, placement and balance. Devnani stayed composed and controlled through the match, a style that mattered in a division where one rushed swing or one impatient approach can swing momentum fast. In a field built around age-group competition, that kind of all-court discipline was enough to separate her from Punjabi and secure the Maharashtra Open’s 50+ women’s crown.

That result carried extra weight because the Maharashtra Open 2026 was not a niche side event. The Indian Pickleball Association-sanctioned PWR 400 tournament ran from May 1-3 at Andheri Sports Complex and brought in more than 1,000 players across 30-plus categories. The draw stretched from U-14 and intermediate events to pro and 50+ brackets, with participants ranging in age from 8 to 60. In other words, Devnani’s title came in a competition that treated older women’s play as a serious part of the event’s identity.

That structure matters for Indian pickleball’s next phase. When a tournament can support age-group women’s singles alongside elite pro matches, it suggests the sport is building enough depth to keep players engaged long after the younger brackets have filled up. For clubs, coaches and organizers, that means more than adding one veterans’ slot to a schedule. It points to demand for court time, training, and competition pathways for women who want to keep playing and keep winning.

The scale of the Maharashtra Open backed up that argument. Winners were eligible to represent Maharashtra at the National Championship later in 2026, giving the event a direct sporting payoff beyond the Mumbai courts. Maharashtra Pickleball Association president Rahool N Kanal said the state was at an “inflection point” and aimed to make Maharashtra the “undisputed powerhouse” of pickleball in India, “one district at a time.” Kanal also said the newly formed association crossed 750 members in its debut month.

Indian Pickleball Association president Suryaveer Singh Bhullar praised the event as high-level work on and off court, while tournament voices pointed to the sight of players from age 8 all the way to 60 as proof of where the sport is headed. With names like Mihika Yadav in the broader draw, and Devnani and Punjabi leading the 50+ women’s final, the Maharashtra Open showed that Indian pickleball’s growth is no longer only about youth potential. It is also about older women claiming space, visibility and competitive value in a sport that is starting to build for the long haul.