Sporting excellence continues to run in the Amalsadiwala family, as Mumbai-based sisters, Pearl (19) and Naomi (16) Amalsadiwala have been selected to represent India at the Pickleball World Cup 2026, to be held in Da Nang, Vietnam, this September. The achievement carries special significance, coming just two years after their father, Nozer Amalsadiwala, captained India’s senior team at the Pickleball World Cup in Peru, making it a remarkable family legacy on the international stage.

The third edition of the Pickleball World Cup, and the first to be hosted in Asia, is expected to attract thousands of players from over 80 countries. The sisters secured their places after an outstanding performance at the Indian selection trials, where they claimed Gold in the Pro Women’s Doubles in the Open category. They also faced each other in the Mixed Doubles final while partnering different teammates, with Naomi winning Gold alongside Arjun Singh and Pearl taking Silver with Divyanshu after an intense contest decided by the final point. Naomi will also represent India in the Under-18 category.

Their success follows an exceptional domestic season. At the IPA Nationals in Bengaluru last year, the sisters shared six medals between them, with Pearl achieving a golden hat-trick. They first helped Maharashtra secure the State Team Gold before becoming rivals in the Mixed Doubles final, only to reunite the following day and dominate the Women’s Doubles final, winning convincingly 15-1. Their remarkable chemistry on court, combined with a healthy sibling rivalry, has earned them the affectionate nickname, ‘Sisters of Destruction!’

The sisters come from different sporting backgrounds. Pearl was a national-level table tennis player who represented Maharashtra for nearly eight years before stepping away from the sport during the pandemic. Encouraged by her parents, she took up pickleball in 2023 and quickly discovered a renewed passion for competitive sport. Naomi, meanwhile, transitioned from gymnastics to pickleball, viewing it as a serious career opportunity from an early stage.

Training together daily for three to four hours at the Andheri Sports Complex has made the sisters an exceptionally formidable pair. Their contrasting playing styles complement each other perfectly, with Pearl adopting an aggressive attacking approach while Naomi excels at absorbing pressure and constructing rallies. Equally familiar with each other’s strengths and weaknesses, they seamlessly switch between being partners and fierce competitors.

Currently in Vietnam competing at the Asia Open as part of their World Cup preparations, the sisters remain focused on continual improvement. More than proving themselves to others, they say their greatest goal is to demonstrate to themselves that years of discipline, sacrifice and perseverance have prepared them to compete with the world’s best.

As they prepare to don the Indian colours on the global stage, Pearl and Naomi Amalsadiwala have already become an inspiring example of sporting excellence, family support and the bright future of Indian pickleball. Their journey is one that the Parsi community, and indeed the nation, will follow with immense pride.