If you thought pickleball was a passing fad, here’s a Mumbai family — dad, mom, and their two teen daughters — that’s been playing since 2000, and bringing home several medals from international games
(From left) Meher Amalsadiwala, daughters Naomi and Pearl, and dad Nozer take a break after a warm-up game at Andheri Sports Complex. PIC/NIMESH DAVE
In a sport still finding its footing in India, the Amalsadiwalas stand out not just for their medals, but for being a rare full-house family pack of competitive pickleball players. This Parsi family from Andheri — parents Nozer and Meher, and daughters Pearl, 18, and Naomi, 15 — have turned their shared love for the paddle sport into a lifestyle, with dinner-table conversations, and international medals all revolving around one thing: pickleball.
It all started in 2019 when Nozer, 51, who runs a small sports events company, attended a local pickleball tournament as part-owner of a team. Watching the sport up close, he thought, “I can play as good as some of the players I’ve picked.” He picked up a paddle and, has never put it down since. Meher, 43, joined later, initially just to be his mixed doubles partner. “There were very few women in the game then,” she recalls. “So I thought, why not give it a try?” In 2023, she won a national gold medal in women’s doubles in Gujarat with an ankle sprain on court. “I was a little off-court that day, but my partner took a lead and we won the gold. Still very proud of that win!”
For the daughters, it was a natural progression. Pearl is a former national-level table tennis player, and was wondering “what next” after she stopped playing TT. “My parents had already started playing, and encouraged Naomi to try it first. She loved it, and I joined a month later,” says Pearl. Both sisters trained under professional coaches, with Pearl’s table tennis reflexes giving her an edge. Within months, they were competing at high levels and soon were signed by Global Sports as part of a “Next Gen” talent hunt programme.
In February 2025, Pearl and Naomi clinched bronze at an international tournament in Dubai. “We were so close to the finals,” Pearl reflects. “But the experience taught us a lot about where we stand internationally.” Naomi, now in Class 11, adds, “I’m young, so I have time on my side. That’s a good feeling.” With both daughters now among the top doubles pairs in India, the family’s collective passion has become a binding force. “We may not coach them technically,” says Nozer, “but we’re heavily involved in their mental game which is the team dynamics, staying calm when a match turns, being humble when you win.” Meher adds, “That’s where our experience helps. We analyse and help them reflect, but we don’t interfere too much in skills.”
Despite their shared sport, each member trains independently, often with separate coaches and partners. “Evenings are a bit chaotic,” Meher laughs. “But by night, when we sit down for dinner, it always circles back to pickleball. It’s what has brought us closer.” Naomi agrees, adding that while there’s healthy rivalry between the sisters, especially when they face off in mixed doubles, the bond only deepens after every match. “We stay apart for a few hours post-match, but we come back to discuss it,” she laughs.
Their journey is already inspiring others. “We were one of the earliest families where all four members played competitively,” says Nozer. “Now we’re seeing more families entering the scene, but full families of four are still rare.” What began as a hobby has become significant to Amalsadiwalas’ identity and community. “It’s an addictive sport,” says Meher. “Easy to start, hard to master.” For the girls, it’s a shot at a sporting career. For the parents, it’s a way to stay fit and connect with their kids. All four of them find the joy of facing each other on the court — win or lose.
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