Pickleball
Turning pastime into profession: Sonu Kumar rides the Pickleball wave
From the rooftops of Dhanbad to national prominence, Sonu Kumar's growth has been phenomenal.
22 year old Sonu Kumar is one of India's prominent rising talents on the Pickleball circuit. (Photo Credit: WPBL)
In the small town of Dhanbad, a little boy picked up a padel as a means to kill time with his friends.
Little did he know at the time that the lesser known sport would take him on a life-changing journey.
Jharkhand-based Pickleball professional Sonu Kumar Vishwarma might have had an unlikely inception into the sport, but he has now made a name for himself.
The 22-year-old just finished his first season with the Chennai Super Champs at the World Pickleball League, and while the team might have had a rough time, Sonu is here to stay.
Unlikely beginning
Sonu Kumar’s pickleball journey began unconventionally, on the rooftop of an inoperable hospital in Dhanbad.
At a time when the sport had little recognition in India, he and his friends built a makeshift court and played purely for the love of the game.
“When I started pickleball, it wasn’t much of a craze, but somehow, I got attached to the sport and started playing it for fun,” he said, in an interview with The Bridge.
What started as a pastime soon became a passion for young Sonu.
His skills improved, and within a few years, he played his first tournament in Jalgaon, Maharashtra.
The tournament might not have ended in victory for Sonu, but it ignited a passion within him that would soon propel him much further.
“After playing there in such a big tournament, I got too attached to the sport and was inspired by the senior players,” he said.
His breakthrough came post-COVID when he participated in the ROIP tournament and clinched a singles gold medal.
“That win was big for me because it was a high-profile tournament, and many people were there to watch me play," he said.
Despite the gold medal, exposure remained a challenge. Coming from a small state with limited facilities, Sonu felt like his opportunities were drying up.
“I got some limelight, but the exposure wasn’t great because I was from a small state and was already 20,” he said.
"This forced me to almost quit the sport," he added, but destiny had other ideas for Sonu.
A new lease of life
Just when he was about to walk away, a friend convinced him to participate in the Smash League, one last tournament before moving on.
"I went there and played well but I came back home as this was my last tournament in my mind," he recalled.
But then, fate intervened.
“Arvind Prabhoo (AIPA Chairman) called me. He told me to come to Mumbai because they wanted me to turn professional, and they would help me with that,” Sonu said.
With the full backing of the All India Pickleball Association (AIPA), Sonu took the leap of faith.
He convinced his parents to give him a year to test himself in Mumbai.
Once in Mumbai, Sonu was exposed to structured training, professional coaching, and high-level competition, things he had never experienced back in Jharkhand.
“Mumbai has a good structure for pickleball, but my state doesn’t have that many facilities," Sonu recalled.
"I told my parents, ‘Give me one year to try the sport properly,' and my life changed completely,” he added.
Sharing the space with India's top Pickleball professionals, Sonu was exposed to the professional side of the sport, and despite hardships, Sonu thrived.
“The thing I learned the most from top players is how they focus during a tournament, on their schedule, sleep, diet, and training. That made a big difference for me,” he said.
His hard work bore fruit when he won a gold medal at WPC Mumbai, followed by another gold at the Nationals.
These victories solidified his place among India’s elite pickleball players.
“For me, WPC Mumbai was my biggest achievement. I have won local tournaments before, but this was special,” he said.
An optimistic future
With the sport's booming growth in India and across the world, Sonu firmly believes an Olympic reckoning is around the corner.
“This sport has already had a big boom in the last year, and I’m sure it will enter the Olympics. If not this edition, maybe the next one,” he concluded, beaming with optimism.
From playing on a hospital rooftop in Dhanbad to winning national gold and competing in the World Pickleball League, Sonu's story has just begun.
With age on his side and sky-high potential, Sonu Kumar could well lead India's Pickleball charge.
