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When Dhiren Patel steps onto the courts at FORT Pickleball in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for the second edition of the Pickleball World Cup on 27 October, he will not just be representing himself – he will be carrying India’s hopes and the pride on his shoulders. A man who has seamlessly straddled two demanding worlds – that of a coach and a player – Dhiren is set to play the dual role that defines his passion for the sport. For India’s chief pickleball coach, grooming the next generation of champions is a duty; chasing personal excellence remains an unquenchable fire. “As a player, obviously, I wanted to win the gold medal for sure for India. This is a huge opportunity to play for India. I am very excited and ready. I am all set with all my gear in and ready for the World Cup. And I am going all out,” Dhiren told Pickleball Now. However, Dhiren is not travelling to Florida merely as a competitor. He will also be India’s tactical brain on the sidelines – a coach constantly observing, guiding, and inspiring. The Pickleball World Cup is his first major test guiding Team India. “As a coach, I am there with the team. I will be sharing my strategies, my ideas to win the matches with the players. I will be around every match. I will try to go to every court of our team, wherever Team India is playing. I will try to be there and give them some pointers, some hints, so that they can win the match,” he explained. His hope, as he admits with a chuckle, is that his own matches do not clash with India’s crucial games. “If they have any tough matches, I wish that I will be free that time. I am not playing my matches at that time. I am really excited,” said Dhiren, one of the first Indian coaches to be certified by the Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR) in the United States. For more than eighteen years, he lived and breathed tennis – coaching across India and at the famed Van Der Meer Tennis Academy in the United States. Now, as he returns to the country once again, this time as India’s national pickleball coach, Dhiren has a point to prove. Prepared and poised Dhiren’s confidence comes from relentless preparation. “Preparation is very much there. All the drills, all the difficulties that players have, we have worked on it. And I think every one of us is ready for the World Cup,” he shared. Last year, he made history by winning the US Open Championship gold medal for India in the 35+ category. This time, he will be taking on the challenge of the open category – a tougher, faster, and more demanding division. Yet, he remains undaunted. “I would say the middle chances,” he said modestly when asked about his expectations. “To be honest, last year, in 2024, I won the US Open Championship, US Open gold medal for India in the 35+ category. This time I will be competing in the open category, which is going to be slightly tougher – not slightly actually, a little tougher than the 35 plus category. But I am ready for it. I have done my homework, and I have done my preparation for it. I am very positive to win the match.” Dhiren will pair up with Suraj Desai in the men’s doubles category. Talking about their chances, Dhiren said, “We are ready. We have played a lot of practice matches. We have also solved our queries, where we were missing some connection, where we were missing some tuning. So we did work on it. And we are ready. I think now we are absolutely ready for our matches,” said Dhiren with quiet assurance. This year marks a historic milestone – the first official participation of India at the Pickleball World Cup. Sixty-eight teams from around the globe will descend on Florida for the second edition of the tournament, and India’s fourteen-member contingent represents every age and skill category – from young talents to the 50+ veterans. 'Huge message to Indian pickleball community' For Dhiren, this is not just another tournament; it is a statement. “It is going to be very much encouraging for all the Indian Pickleball Association – I mean, all the Indian Pickleball players – because seeing the results, seeing the exposure that all the players are getting. I think other players who are not there in the team this time, they all will be absolutely motivated to play the sport and to grow in the sport and grow Pickleball for them as a career also, just like any other racquet sports,” he said. Dhiren believes India’s participation will spark a new movement at home. “Team India playing in this World Cup is a huge message to the entire Indian Pickleball community that Pickleball is a sport where you can really build your career. You can really play for a lifetime. So it is a sport for every age group – for the sub juniors, juniors, also the men’s level, women’s level, and also 30 plus, 40 plus, 50 plus. This time Indian team is participating in the 50 plus category as well. So it is absolutely a great message to the entire India where Pickleball players are playing," he stated. His words brim with belief. “It is absolutely motivating for everybody that even the 50 plus category has a chance to play a sport at the international level. So I think this is a very good message to the entire community in India for Pickleball.” Adapting to the Florida climate Many Indian players will arrive in the United States only a day or two before the tournament begins – a challenge for acclimatisation. Dhiren, however, isn’t leaving anything to chance - he already has a plan in place. “I think going from here is okay. I think we have young players and also actually all the players, even the 50 plus players are also very excited to play their matches in the United States,” he said. “After reaching there, we have a team meeting. And then after the team meeting, we have a team practice also. And we are going to have about two hours of practice. And also I will try to give some more practice to those who feel a little rusty there after the travelling. I will make sure that everybody warms up well, does the dynamic warm-up first, and then the paddle and ball warm-up on court. After that, we will do a good stretching session towards the end," he said. For him, mindset is everything. “I want to talk with everybody to make sure everybody keeps their energy high and gives their best until the last point – the match is not over. Keep the fighting spirit at the highest level. And on top of that, enjoy the matches, respect your opponent. That is the key factor that I want to discuss with everyone again, once again, and I think we will go from there.” Even jet lag, he says, will struggle to keep up with the team’s excitement - such is the energy of the players. “I think everyone is so excited. So no jet lag or anything will bother anyone. But if so, then I will motivate them. I will be there as a, you know, killer. I will be there as a motivator for everybody," said Dhiren. As Dhiren heads to Florida – paddle in hand, whistle around his neck – he carries not only his personal ambitions but also the aspirations of an entire sporting community that dares to dream bigger.
