Mid-Day Anniversary | The big pickle effect: Meet the Mumbaikars powering the city's pickleball boom

(From left to right) Naomi, Meher, Nozer, and Pearl Amalsadiwala. PICS/NIMESH DAVE

When the Amalsadiwalas were first featured for their remarkable journey as Mumbai's pickleball family, they were already making waves by competing together across tournaments. Today, that story has grown into something much bigger. They are no longer just a family that plays the sport together. They have become one of the faces of Mumbai's booming pickleball culture, inspiring players, building communities, and putting the city's sporting spirit on display.

It all began with Nozer Amalsadiwala, who picked up a paddle in 2019, just before the pandemic brought the world to a standstill. While COVID briefly interrupted the momentum, his interest in the sport never faded. His wife, Meher, followed a couple of years later, before daughters Pearl (19) and Naomi (16) joined in during 2023. "It started with me," Nozer recalls, "But we only became known as a pickleball family once the girls started playing. That's when people would say, ‘Wow, the entire family plays together'."

Pearl and Naomi are now India's top-ranked women's doubles pair and recently qualified to represent the country at the Pickleball World Cup in Vietnam this September. Ironically, while they dominate together in women's doubles, they often find themselves competing against each other in mixed doubles events alongside their parents. The family's rise has mirrored Mumbai's own pickleball explosion. In just the past year, courts across the city have become harder than ever to book, tournaments have multiplied, and a once-niche sport has rapidly entered the mainstream.

"Many new friendships have evolved in the last four or five years," says Nozer, "A lot of our friends are now from the pickleball community. Evenings are about competitive games, tournaments, networking and spending time with people who share the same passion." As familiar faces on Mumbai's courts, the family has also become central to the city's growing pickleball ecosystem. Nozer is frequently approached for advice on organising tournaments, while the sisters have become crowd favourites wherever they play.

"They've even earned a nickname," Meher laughs, "‘The Sisters of Destruction.' Whenever the girls enter a community tournament, people gather around just to watch them play." The recognition extends beyond the courts. Within Mumbai's close-knit Parsi community, Pearl and Naomi's achievements have become a source of immense pride. "They're among the first young Parsi girls to reach this level," says Meher, "The appreciation we've received from the community has been incredible."

For Meher, however, pickleball's greatest impact has been deeply personal. In 2024, she was diagnosed with cancer, forcing her to step away from the game. Returning wasn't easy, but the support she received from fellow players became an unexpected source of strength. "I always say pickleball gave me more than I gave the sport," she reflects, "The community constantly encouraged me to come back. It gave me confidence, motivation and helped me regain my health."

The Amalsadiwalas are modest about their role in Mumbai's pickleball movement. They insist the city's sporting boom is the result of collective enthusiasm rather than one family's achievements. But this writer personally believes that their story has undeniably become part of Mumbai's sporting personality. What's more is that their journey also teaches you consistency, grit, support, and perseverance.