For Kavya J, pickleball is more than just a sport; it’s a journey of growth and ambition. The 26-year-old, who once juggled badminton and a corporate job, is now a full-time pickleball coach and competitor. Now at the Rise Up Championship – Pickleball By The Bay 2025, India’s first-ever PWR 1000 tournament, she will compete in women’s singles and doubles, marking another milestone in her career.

“This is my first PWR tournament. I have never participated in this type of event before, so I am unsure how it will be. But I want to be a competitive player in the tournament,” Kavya said while speaking to Pickleball Now, ahead of her campaign in Chennai.

Her pickleball journey began in 2018, when the sport was introduced to her at her college in Bangalore. What started with just a few shots soon became a passion. “For the first year, I struggled. But after that, I started winning medals, which boosted my confidence,” she recalled.

In the early days, opportunities were limited, but the game has since exploded in Bangalore. “From three or four years ago, when there were just a handful of courts, today we have hundreds, and thousands of players are actively participating,” she said. The rapid growth also inspired her to take up coaching full-time. “I quit my job and started coaching, and now I have a lot of students under me. Go Rally has played a big role in my journey, supporting and sponsoring me for tournaments, while also boosting my energy in coaching sessions.”

While pickleball is her primary focus, Kavya also has a background in badminton, having represented Bangalore University and competed at the state level. But today, her sights are firmly set on pickleball’s future. “I want to continue as a long-term expert in pickleball. My goal is to develop my students into skilled players in India and encourage them to compete internationally. Personally, I aspire to participate in the Asian Games and the Olympics. Even though it’s not an Olympic sport yet, when it is, I should be there to represent India.”

As she prepares for Chennai’s high-stakes tournament, Kavya is also eager to test herself against some of the top names in the field.

For her, the Rise Up Championship is not just another tournament but a stepping stone to a stage where her years of hard work will culminate into something bigger.

About Indian Pickleball Association:

The Indian Pickleball Association is the official governing body for pickleball in India and is dedicated to promoting, developing, and organising the sport across the country. The association continues to inspire players of all ages and skill levels to embrace the game through events like the IPA Nationals. IPA is affiliated with the Asian Pickleball Association (APA) and the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF).

About Pickleball World Ranking:

PWR is a national ranking system that spans all age groups, skill divisions, and formats -including singles, doubles, and mixed categories. It serves as the official National Sports Federation Ranking for India. With multiple sanctioned events taking place every week across the country, PWR defines the top Indian players at every level and forms the foundation for team selection at the school, district, state, and national stages.