PICKERING, Ontario — Pickleball is said to be the fastest growing sport in North America and is enjoyed by people of all ages, without requiring previous court experience.

Both E. Bhardwaj and Sohail Tyabji started playing the sport recreationally in 2019. During COVID, over the course of the winter, pickleball was their outlet to get out and socialize with others who shared the same love for the sport. Over time, it went beyond just a sport for them as it provided a chance to connect with their community and provide support and encouragement to others during the pandemic, when things were unknown.

In September 2021, after playing for only a month together, both decided to enroll as a team into the Kawartha Open tournament, held in Peterborough. Being their first tournament, it was an excellent learning experience, and surely an eye opener at the level of competitiveness evident in this newly popular game.

“We had a lot of fun playing at this level (beginners 3.0) but winning a bronze medal was definitely a feather in our cap. We did not expect to do this well against seasoned campaigners.”

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