By Sachit Subba • Off-Field • Sep 01, 2026 09:40 AM • 28 views
At the first Hardik Fitness Open Pickleball Tournament, Subarna Shah dominated by winning both the men's singles and doubles titles on Sunday in Pulchowk. The tournament, held to mark Hardik Fitness's 29th anniversary, drew many local players and showed how quickly the sport has been growing in Nepal.
In the men's singles final, Shah delivered a masterclass in precision and court control. He beat Pranav Khanal in two one-sided games, 11-4 and 11-1. From the start, Shah set the pace and never let Khanal find a rhythm. This decisive win has established him as one of the top local players in the singles event.
Success continued in the doubles event. Shah partnered with Samir Pokhrel and proved unstoppable. Although they faced some initial resistance, they soon overpowered their opponents. They won the championship by a clear margin, 11-5 and 11-2. The pair's coordinated baseline play and aggressive net attacks left opponents with no effective reply.
Although the final matches had decisive scorelines, the contests for the last podium spots brought the weekend's most exciting moments. Ayush Shrestha secured third place in the men's singles event after a tough three-game match against Manoj Kumar. He won the first game 11-3, after which Kumar responded and won the second game 11-5. In the third and final game, Shrestha regained his composure and won 11-8.
The match for third place in the men's doubles was just as exciting. Krishna Agrawal and Manoj Kumar lost the first game, 10-12, to Rohit Chamling and Bed Kumar Tamang. After the defeat, Agrawal and Kumar changed their strategy and won the next two games, 11-7 and 11-7. This comeback win secured their place on the podium.
The tournament sponsors awarded substantial rewards to the best performers. Those who placed first, second, and third in each category were awarded cash prizes of 30,000, 15,000, and 5,000 Nepali Rupees, respectively, and all winners also received exclusive gift hampers and complimentary memberships to Hardik Fitness.
The number of participants shows that local interest in the sport has risen sharply. Thirty-six players signed up for the singles event, and 46 teams entered the doubles competition. The large turnout in Pulchowk shows that the sport is becoming a highly competitive part of the Nepali athletic scene. The success of this calendar-marking event provides a solid basis for future athletic events in the Kathmandu Valley.
