with KADAMBARI PATIL
DOB: 10th August, 1996
State: Maharashtra
City: Mumbai
Club: Maharashtra State Association
Kadambari Patil is one such player who can be regarded as the first-generation of Pickleball players in India. An avid Mumbaikar, Kadambari was a go-happy lucky girl when she first heard of Pickleball.
“When I was in first year of BFM in M L Dhanukar College, Chetan Kate told me about Pickleball. I was like what is Pickleball?… I want to play. And I started playing it in 2014. I represented Mumbai at the state level in the same year. That is how my Pickleball journey started.”
Kadambari’s journey started with some of her mates in M L Dhanukar College, also the alma matter of Sunil Valavalkar. It was a prominent centre of Pickleball at that time with Chetan Kate being instrumental in making the game popular in that college. He made his own team of players that acted as a base for Pickleball in India. This team not only played but went all out to promote the game.
“I had seen the initial struggles of Pickleball. We, as a team, went to different societies, schools, other educational institutes etc to demonstrate the game. There was always some dilemma regarding the acceptance of the game by the people. While some accepted, others rejected us. In this way our journey continued. And during this journey, our bonding became very strong which is still intact.”
Kadambari has been one of the most popular players in domestic circuit. After finishing college she has joined Hudl India, the company that builds powerful and flexible tools for sports video analysis. Although professionally quite busy, she always dedicates her time for Pickleball. She loves the game and it has turned into a passion for her.
“I feel the ‘great fun’ in Pickleball and so I am addicted to play. It is through this sport that I got a little bit of recognition throughout the country.”
After having some famous wins in domestic circuit, Kadambari Patil now wants to conquer the international front. She will be representing India in the German Open in Essen in July 2019. Her dream is to represent more for her country and also to keep on participating actively in the Indian Pickleball movement.
“From the beginning, I am involved in promoting the game. And in the future too I want to keep on promoting. I am always there for Pickleball.”
Kadambari Patil sees life as an adventure and in that escapade she has her bike and her Pickleball. On the fast-paced track with her bike she wants to give her life a new ‘Pickleball’ meaning.
“Pickleball has given me some precious moments of my life. I have made friends and they have become family to me. I explored new places because of this game. It has given me many things in my life. So I never want to leave it and spend the rest of my life with it.”
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS
DISTRICT LEVEL
Bronze in Women’s Doubles at 2nd Mumbai District Pickleball Championship, 2014
Silver in Mixed Doubles at 2nd Mumbai District Pickleball Championship, 2014
Bronze in Women’s Doubles at 3rd Mumbai District Pickleball Championship, 2015
Silver in Women’s Singles at 3rd Mumbai District Pickleball Championship, 2015
Silver in Mixed Doubles at 4th Mumbai District Pickleball Championship, 2016
Gold in Mixed Doubles at 5th Mumbai District Pickleball Championship, 2017
Gold in Women’s Doubles at 5th Mumbai District Pickleball Championship, 2017
STATE LEVEL
Gold at 4th State-level Pickleball Chamionship, 2014
NATIONAL LEVEL
Bronze at 2nd National Pickleball Championship, 2014
INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
5th Place at 1st Indian Open Pickleball Championship, 2017
7th Place at 2nd Indian Open Pickleball Championship, 2018
OPEN TOURNAMENT
Silver at 1st Mumbai Open Pickleball Championship, 2017
Bronze at 2nd Jalgaon Open Pickleball Championship, 2018
Silver at 2nd Mumbai Open Pickleball Championship, 2018
Bronze at 1st Women Pickleball Championship, 2018
