Gia wins two gold and a bronze as Telangana dominate 2nd South Zone Pickleball meet

Hosts Telangana dominated the opening day’s singles events with an impressive haul of 21 medals at the 2nd South Zone Pickleball Championship 2026, organized by the Amateur Telangana Pickleball Association (ATPA), which began at The HUB Pickleball, Kompally, Hyderabad, on Saturday.

Telangana’s Gia Gandhi won two singles title. She won the under-19 girls’ singles title. She was followed by statemates Malishka Kuramu and Devika S.

In the Under-16 girls’ singles, Gia Gandhi triumphed. She was followed by Andhra Pradesh’s Thota Neeha and Alaparthi Aardhya.

Gia Gandhi also bagged a bronze medal in the open women’s singles title. Malishka Kuramu won the title, while Sanjana Sirimalla came in second.

The three-day championship is being held from June 13 to 15, 2026, with singles on June 13, doubles on June 14 and mixed doubles on June 15.

The inaugural ceremony was presided over by Dr Dasaradha Ram Reddy Tetali, senior vice president, Amateur Telangana Pickleball Association.

The event was graced by Sonibala Devi, vice chairperson & managing director, Sports Authority of Telangana, Chetan Sanil, secretary general, All India Pickleball Association, Dr K Rami Reddy, former general secretary, SGFTS, Rajat K, chairman, player registration committee, All India Pickleball Association, Ajay, and Shashank Reddy B, proprietor, The HUB Pickleball.

Also present on the occasion were Jagan Mohan Goud, general secretary, Amateur Telangana Pickleball Association, along with members of the Amateur Telangana Pickleball Association.

Sonibala wins 50+ singles title

Speaking on the occasion, Sonibala Devi appreciated the efforts of the Amateur Telangana Pickleball Association in promoting pickleball and encouraging participation across all age groups. She also led by example by winning the gold medal in the 50+ women’s singles category, inspiring players with her commitment to sports both as an administrator and as an athlete.

Telangana minister Srihari unveils mascot & wall poster of 2nd South Zone Pickleball

Results: U-12 boys singles: 1. Srihari Shathayu (Karnataka), 2. Shreshta Manohar (Karnataka), 3. Rishik Dundigalla (Telangana).

U-12 girls singles: 1. Thota Neeha (Andhra Pradesh), 2. Mischitha Arutla (Telangana), 3. Likitha Kolli (Karnataka).

U-14 boys singles: 1. Sega Dhanwanth (Telangana), 2. Tribhuvan Arutla (Telangana), 3. Rishik Dundigalla (Telangana).

U-14 girls singles: 1. Thota Nihita Maanvi (Andhra Pradesh), 2. Mischitha Arutla (Telangana), 3. Likitha Kolli (Karnataka)

U-16 boys singles: 1. Vincent (Andhra Pradesh), 2. Tejas (Telangana), 3. Sega Dhanwanth (Telangana).

U-16 girls singles: 1. Gia Gandhi (Telangana), 2. Thota Neeha (Andhra Pradesh), 3. Alaparthi Aardhya (Andhra Pradesh).

U-19 boys singles: 1. Safal Kochhar (Telangana), 2. Nihal Kurapati (Telangana), 3. Charan Kumar (Telangana).

U-19 girls singles: 1. Gia Gandhi (Telangana), 2. Malishka Kuramu (Telangana), 3. Devika S (Telangana).

Open men’s singles: 1. Ananth Mani (Andhra Pradesh), 2. Saran Kavali (Telangana), 3. Shourya Tej (Karnataka).

Open women’s singles: 1. Malishka Kuramu (Telangana), 2. Sanjana Sirimalla (Telangana), 3. Gia Gandhi (Telangana).

35+ men’s singles: 1. Venkata Sai Kumar Reddy (Telangana), 2. Yathindra Dev (Andhra Pradesh), 3. Sudhakar YC (Karnataka).

50+ women’s singles: 1. Sonibala Devi (Telangana), 2. Dipti Balan (Telangana), 3. Madhavi G (Telangana).

60+ men’s singles: 1. Nampoothiri (Kerala), 2. Ram Reddy (Telangana), 3. Pallipattu Ramesh (Andhra Pradesh).

Medal Tally:

Telangana: 21 medals (5 gold, 9 silver, 7 bronze)

Andhra Pradesh: 9 medals (4 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze)

Karnataka: 7 medals (2 gold, 1 silver, 4 bronze)

Kerala: 1 medal (1 gold)