Indian Pickleball League 2025: Chennai extend unbeaten run; Bengaluru claim first victory on Day 3

Roos van Reek remains undefeated in all singles matches this IPBL season.

Bengaluru Blasters bounced back from successive defeats with a nail-biting 4-2 Grand Rally win over Mumbai Smashers, opening their account in the Indian Pickleball League—launched by The Times Group and recognised as India’s only official pickleball league, sanctioned by the Indian Pickleball Association under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.

Later, league leaders Chennai Super Warriors stretched their winning run to three with a smashing 5-1 victory over Capital Warriors Gurgaon.

With both Bengaluru and Mumbai chasing their first IPBL win, the day’s opening tie exploded into action as Asia’s top two players—and close friends—Quang Duong (Mumbai) and Phuc Huynh (Bengaluru) lit up centre court.

Huynh struck first, repeatedly pulling Duong toward the kitchen line before firing winners into the backcourt. But the World No. 3 responded with trademark precision, flipping the momentum and closing out a sharp 15–10 win.

Huynh hit back immediately, teaming up with teenager Arjun Singh to outduel Duong and Ammol Ramchandani 15–11 in the men’s doubles.

Pei Chuan Kao then shifted the tie Bengaluru’s way, sweeping past Allison Harris 15–7 in the women’s singles. Mumbai answered through Harris and Pearl Amalsadiwala in the women’s doubles, pushing the contest into a nerve-wracking Grand Rally.

While Mumbai kept clawing back, Bengaluru held their nerve, edging a dramatic 21–20 golden-point finish. Duong and Kao were named Players of the Tie.

Later, Capital Warriors Gurgaon came out swinging against unbeaten Chennai Super Warriors, stunning the league leaders with an opening blow. Arik Badami set the tone, using sharp kitchen-line control to outplay Mitch Hargreaves 15–11 in the men’s singles.

But Chennai hit back immediately, as Hargreaves and Harsh Mehta held firm in a tense, high-speed men’s doubles battle, edging Stavya Bhasin and Jack Munro 15–14 to level the tie.

Also Read: ‘Foresee a bright future for pickleball’: Swiggy CEO Rohit Kapoor

From there, Chennai shifted gears. Yet to lose a singles match this season, Roos van Reek powered past Emilia Schmidt 15–12, before partnering Aaliya Ebrahim to claim the women’s doubles by the same margin.

Chennai capped their comeback in style, overturning a late deficit in the Grand Rally to win 21–18 and extend their flawless run to three straight victories. Van Reek and Badami were named the Players of the Tie.

A day earlier, Capital Warriors Gurgaon and Bengaluru Blasters delivered a 4–2 thriller that went right to the wire. Huynh opened with a commanding 15–3 win over Munro and then paired with Arjun to double Bengaluru’s lead.

Gurgaon came back from 2-0 down as Schmidt took the women’s singles and later combined with Naimi Mehta to level the tie. A breathtaking, point-for-point Grand Rally followed before Bhasin’s backhand sealed a 21–20 golden-point victory for Gurgaon. Huynh and Schmidt were named Players of the Tie.

The concluding face-off between Lucknow Leopards and Hyderabad Royals was underway at press time, with results to be updated in the next round-up.

Capital Warriors Guragon will face Lucknow Leopards on the curtain-raiser on Gameday 4, before Bengaluru Blasters take on Chennai Super Warriors. Mumbai Smashers will be up against Hyderabad Royals in the day’s final tie.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram