Armaan Bhatia of India is #1, Sends a Warning Shot to U.S. Players

Good day, picklers.

Here’s what’s on the docket today:

• Pickle Talk: Armaan Bhatia of India is #1, Sends a Warning Shot to U.S. Players

• Bite-sized: Theaters Drop $2.2 Billion on Upgrades—Pickleball Courts Included

• Golden Pickle: 35-year-old tears achilles tendon after playing against a 70 year old women. What’s there left to say?

PICKLE TALK

Armaan Bhatia of India is #1, Sends a Warning Shot to U.S. Players

Bruh. Asia’s top pickleball talent just served the U.S. a major wake-up call. A GOLDEN wake-up call.

This past Sunday, India’s top-ranked pickleball powerhouse, Armaan Bhatia, dominated the courts at the PWR DUPR India Masters in New Delhi.

Bhatia’s crowning achievement that had us on the edge of our seats?

A gritty, come-from-behind victory over American standout Dusty Boyer, taking the men’s singles title 8-11, 11-9, 11-8.

Dusty sure stayed true to his name. 😁 (interpret that how you will)

Anyways…Mr. India he didn’t stop there—he cleaned up in mixed doubles with Roos van Reek and men’s doubles with Harsh Mehta, leaving with three shiny trophies and a clear message:

India’s pickleball scene is rising fast.

What did Dusty expect? Dusty Boyer, an American pro, looked poised to run away with the singles title when he had an 8-0 lead in the final set.

But unfortunately for Boyer, Bhatia’s endurance and killer comeback instincts turned the tide, proving he’s here to give the Americans a serious run for their money.

Dusty after the match: “I was in control, but he just kept making big shots. He kept getting better, and I just didn’t respond well enough.”

A bit more on India’s growing pickleball powerhouse…

Pickleball is blowing up in urban India, with more players, fans, and courts popping up nationwide.

This PWR 700-ranked event was New Delhi’s first international pickleball showdown, drawing local fans and setting the stage for India to stake its claim in the global pickleball arena.

And Bhatia’s performance? It’s just the beginning of what’s shaping up to be a massive push for India on the world stage.

What’s Next?

India’s reputation for producing skilled, crafty athletes is only getting stronger in the pickleball world.

Boyer himself knows the threat: “India has amazing athletes and fantastic hand skills. They were always crafty opponents back when I played tennis, and it translates so well to pickleball.”

So, U.S. pros?

You might want to keep an eye on India because this isn’t just a one-time upset—it’s a preview of the next wave of fierce international competition.

MIC DROP.

BITE-SIZED PICKLE

1/ Theaters Drop $2.2 Billion on Upgrades—Pickleball Courts Included

America’s top eight theater chains are betting big—$2.2 billion big—to make your next movie night something special.

Yup, according to Variety, this massive investment will revamp over 21,000 screens with cutting-edge sound, laser projection, luxurious seating, and revamped dining.

And here’s the twist: some theaters are adding activities like pickleball, ziplines, and bowling to keep audiences coming back.

B&B Theatres, for example, has a Texas location where you can catch a film and play pickleball right after. MARILYNS, YOU BETTER SIT YOUR 🍑 DOWN! This is OUR moment to shine!

Anyways…Michael O’Leary, CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners, told Variety that the pandemic may be behind us, but theaters are doubling down on “a range of things” to keep people entertained beyond the movie itself.

They are for sure trying hard to keep customers IN and other distractions OUT.

The focus it seems is on creating multi-purpose hubs where you can eat, relax, and even work out. So you never, ever leave the theatre. EVER.

(QUE the screams, now!)

So next time you’re at the movies, don’t be surprised if you see a popcorn themed pickleball paddle.

Take pics, will ya?

2/ UPDATE! UPA-A Sets $20,000 Certification Fee—and a New Bar for Paddle Testing

The United Pickleball Association of America (UPA-A) just announced its 2025 Paddle Certification Rollout, a rigorous program requiring manufacturers to invest in a $20,000 certification fee, plus additional fees per paddle model, to compete in pro leagues.

Blah. Blah Blah. Alright. If you follow the Pickle Talk closely, you already knew that. Here is the update:

This plan introduces something they like to call destructive testing, a “groundbreaking” process where paddles undergo simulated “break-in” periods to ensure consistent performance over time.

But why the overhaul?

UPA-A President Jason Aspes explains in an interview that the paddle “hotness” can increase as materials wear, creating an uneven playing field.

The weird thing? There’s no benchmark.

To combat this, the UPA-A partnered with UMass-Lowell’s Baseball Research Center to implement Paddle-Ball Coefficient of Restitution (PBCOR) testing and more, analyzing how paddles respond to thousands of shots to predict their peak power and spin.

Beginning April 1, 2025, all paddles used in PPA and MLP events will meet these standards, bringing a new level of accountability to the sport.

GOLDEN PICKLE, ANYONE?

Just a few crumbs before you go…😉

1. All talk no play. That’s what you might think pickleball influencers are all about. But holddd up. Kevin Dong plays against ThatPickleballGuy and Tanner Pickleball to show us what these pickle talking guys are made of. Will it be shame or wins, wins, wins across the board?

2. Catch up on the D.C. Pickleball Team vs New Jersey 5s Premier Level game in Miami. Here are the time stamp if you don’t want to watch the full hour and some change:
   
   0:00 Women's Doubles - Vivian Glozman/Rachel Rohrabacher vs Anna Leigh Waters/Mariana Humberg

   11:24 Men's Doubles - Ryan Fu/Dekel Bar vs Will Howells/Zane Navratil 31:52 Mixed Doubles - Rachel Rohrabacher /Dekel Bar vs Zane Navratil /Mariana Humberg

   48:24 Mixed Doubles - Ryan Fu/Vivian Glozman vs Anna Leigh Waters /Will Howells

3. 35-year-old tears achilles tendon after playing against a 70 year old women. What’s there left to say?

4. Speak of the devil, Emerge Insurance is now the officially the accidental injury insurance provider for USA Pickleball members.

5. Miss the last Pickle Talk? Well hey, spoiler, things got a bit…political. Did you know that Trump sell pickleball paddles and guess what? They aren’t half bad. Also, Mr. Swift aka Travis Kelce now has a $6 million mansion in Kansas equip with a pickleball court none of us commoners will ever get to play on. Sad:(