Karnataka Pickleball Premier League – Season 1

Bengaluru: After three days, 45 hours of non-stop match play and a final that went down to the very last ball, Mysuru Royals — owned by M.L Kantharaj Urs, Managing Director, URS KAR, Mysuru and Pramod Urs, a Mysuru-based entrepreneur — were crowned the inaugural champions of the Karnataka Pickleball Premier League (KPPL).

They edged out a fighting Tumakuru Titans in a nail-biting final held at GKVK campus, Bengaluru. The season-1 of KPPL was held from Oct. 9 to 11 with franchises representing cities across Karnataka battling for the first-ever KPPL title.

More than 50 of the country’s best pickleball players took to the courts, including marquee names Vanshik Kapadia, Sonu Vishwakarma, Anuja Maheshwari and Tejas Mahajan, Mayur Patil, Kuldip Mahajan and Vrushali Thakare.

The title clash between Mysuru Royals and Tumakuru Titans lived up to every bit of its billing. Played in a grand arena set-up in front of a packed crowd, the final swung one way and then the other, with neither side willing to give an inch. With the title on the line and the contest going right down to the last ball, Mysuru Royals held their nerve to seal a famous win and etch their name into KPPL history as Season 1champions. Vanshik Kapadia of Mysuru Royals was named as Most Valuable Player (MVP) of KPPL season-1.

Tumakuru Titans, despite the heartbreak, earned the respect of everyone at GKVK for a spirited campaign and a final that will be talked about for seasons to come. Kannada film actor Sriimurali felicitated the winners and presented the awards.

Individual Awards — Best Player – Men: Arthav Neema (Mangaluru Roarers); Women: Aalyka Ebrahim (Tumakuru Titans); MVP: Vanshik Kapadia (Mysuru Royals); Fair Play Award: Bengaluru Chargers.