Get to know Bhavika Patil - national level Pickleball player

Tell us something about this sport and your experience.?

"This is a fun sport that is known since 2007 in India and is slowly picking up pace. There’s an interesting anecdote behind the name pickleball. The founders?had a dog called pickleball who would get the ball back when they were playing in their backyard. And that’s how they got this name. In 2014 there?wasn’t?even a single dedicated court for this sport but today Mumbai alone has 32 dedicated courts. Today, Pickleball has reached 20 states of India with around?3000 registered players playing the game."

Who has been your inspiration??

"My coach Bhupendra Paul has been my inspiration.?I am?a professional Kho-Kho and Badminton player and have represented my college at various?tournaments for these sports. It was my coach who convinced me to enter this new sport?Pickleball in 2017, and that’s when I played my first tournament. In?2020, I was appointed as the Pickleball development officer by the All-India Pickleball association. I also admire Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Indian cricketer), and?he’s?been my inspiration too."

Tell us more about this game and how you felt winning the national award.?

"Well, like Badminton, you can either play singles, doubles, or mixed doubles. Most people prefer doubles as it becomes easy for all age groups. The team?that gets 11 points first, wins.?

I received “Best Development award”, a national level award as?I have?been helping develop this sport nationally and internationally, being a part of the APFI?development body. I helped to develop this sport in 5 cities. Initially, we were 5 members when we began and today,?we are?100+ members."

How has the pandemic affected your practice / game / daily schedule??

"The lockdown had brought a stop to the entire practice and my game including tournaments which would be held in Mumbai. Eventually, I began my morning?runs again. This sport has helped me a lot to maintain my work life balance. I wake at 5 am and go for an hour’s run. I then practice my game for an hour and?then login for my work."

Being a fresher, what do you have to say about Allianz Technology??

"This is my first ever job.?I am?from Surat but currently in Pune. I completed my engineering in Computer Science. The whole craze about the first salary, first?manager etc was overwhelming in this organization that takes care of every need of its people. I feel so welcomed in my first job and in this one year, my?experience has been great. I won 2 awards and it feels great when talent is appreciated."

What would you like to tell our readers??

"The face of sports today is changing rapidly. People are keen to play a sport which?is not?only easy but fun along with the benefit of keeping them fit.?Pickleball is satisfying all these requirements of modern society of India and hence there is encouraging response for this sport in India.?I would?also want to?introduce this sport within our organization.?It’s?easy, fun, and helps relieve a lot of stress for a healthy work life balance. Every age group and skill set?colleague will surely enjoy this game.

As a pioneer of Pickleball in India, I strongly feel that Pickleball is a new thought.?It is?more than a mere sport which has the potential to galvanize the sporting?segment of our nation.?

While Allianz continuously brings in sports and work life balance opportunities for us like the Allianz World Run, Yoga Day activities, Allianz Workout Warriors?and many more,?it’s?on us how to carpe diem."

Questions? Comment down below! ??