By Dharani Balasubramaniam,Sudipta Biswas

Copyright timesnownews

Aman Kartikeya Patel and Arjun Manoj Singh are ready to write the next chapter of their rising pickleball careers. Patel, the composed player, and Singh, the fearless 15-year-old sensation from Mumbai, won their respective semifinal clashes at Chennai’s VGP Golden Beach Resort to set up a blockbuster men’s singles final at the Rise Up Championship – Pickleball by the Bay 2025, the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) sanctioned PWR 1000 event. Patel, true to his reputation, delivered a composed and commanding performance in the semifinals, overcoming Divyanshu Kataria 11–4, 11–8. The top seed’s strategic play and powerful drives kept his opponent on the back foot, as Patel maneuvered across the court with a calm confidence. “It was a great game. I played the first set really well. Divyanshu is obviously a great opponent and in the second set he was coming back. Then I had to change a few things and it went well. I usually like to go big. I like to play my powerful drives, go big on my serves. Try and cover the net as much as possible,” Patel told Pickleball Now reflecting on his performance. The 20-something phenom, who began playing only last year, has already made waves on the national circuit by earning selection in Team India for this Pickleball World Cup in Mumbai. “I have won a lot of local tournaments but I played well at the Monsoon Championship hosted by Global Sports. I got selected for India in Men’s Singles at the Pickleball World Cup. So yeah, that’s two major achievements,” he said. ‘Mentally prepared’ On the other side of the net, 15-year-old Arjun Manoj Singh captured hearts with one of the tournament’s most thrilling performances. Singh, an emerging pickler, edged past Ammol Rajesh Ramchandani 11–8, 11–10 in a nail-biting semifinal that had the Chennai crowd roaring. “Today’s singles match was very tough. I have played with Ammol in many tournaments. I was leading 8-4 and then he made a comeback. It was 9-9 at one point and I won the second game 11-10,” Singh recounted, his eyes reflecting both relief and determination. Despite being a teenager, Singh displayed a maturity beyond his years. “I am now prepared for the next match mentally and hoping to give my best,” he added, clearly ready to rise to the challenge. With the coastal charm of Chennai as a backdrop, the stage is set for a clash that promises intensity, strategy, and raw talent. Fans can look forward to a high-octane final on Sunday, where Patel’s experience and commanding presence will meet Singh’s youthful audacity and fearless energy.