The Advanced Men’s Singles category at the Kolkata Open 2026 produced a final that shifted direction midway, with Vilasier Khate overcoming an early deficit to defeat Ashray Bhasin and claim the title. Ashray entered the final after a controlled run through the draw. He had beaten Tanish 11-4 in the round of 16, followed by an 11-2 win over Megotsolie in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, he maintained that level with an 11-3 victory against Raghav, keeping matches largely one-sided.
The final began along similar lines. Ashray moved ahead quickly, building a 5-1 lead with steady returns and controlled placement. At that stage, he appeared set to carry his earlier form into the title match.
Vilasier, however, adjusted his approach as the contest progressed. Instead of matching pace, he extended rallies and reduced unforced errors, forcing Ashray to play additional shots. The change disrupted the early rhythm of the match.
Gradually, Vilasier closed the gap. Once the scores levelled, the momentum stayed with him. He continued to keep rallies structured and capitalized on small openings, stringing together points in the latter phase to move ahead.
On the other side of the draw, Vilasier’s path had required more adjustments. He had defeated Zhaptuso 11-4 in the round of 16 and then progressed through later rounds, including a semi-final win over Harsh 11-6. His matches featured more variation, particularly when facing resistance.
Elsewhere, Aman had beaten Nikunj 11-8 before losing to Raghav, while Harsh had progressed through a wildcard entry, defeating Vidyush and later Vishroot to reach the semi-finals.
The final, however, was defined by the change in momentum rather than dominance from start to finish. Ashray’s early lead gave way to Vilasier’s steady recovery, with the latter managing key points more effectively in the closing stretch.
With the win, Vilasier secured the Advanced Mens Singles title, completing a run that relied on patience and adjustment rather than early control.
Kolkata Open 2026 Day 3 Round Up:
Advanced Mens Singles
Winner: Vilasier
Runner up: Ashray
Final Score 11-5
30 Plus Mens Singles
Winner: Rahul
Runner up: Vilasier
Final Score 16-14
Advanced Mixed Doubles
Winners: Manaswinee and Nikunj
Runners up: Rachael and Rayaan
Final Score 15-10
Intermediate Women’s Doubles
Winners: Dipti and Yubrani
Runners up: Manaswinee and Aditi
Final Score 11-5
30 Plus Womens Singles
Winner: Danielle
Runner up: Pooja
Final Score 11-5
30 Plus Women’s Doubles
Winners: Danielle and Monica
Runners up: Manaswinee and Ananya
Final Score 15-5
Split Age 35 Plus Minus Doubles
Winners: Arunava and Saurav
Runners up: Rahul and Purvansh
Final Score 15-5
Under 18 Boys Singles
Winner: Nikunj
Runner up: Ieshan
Final Score 15-5
About Indian Pickleball Association:
The Indian Pickleball Association is the official governing body for pickleball in India and is dedicated to promoting, developing, and organizing the sport across the country. The association continues to inspire players of all ages and skill levels to embrace the game through events like the IPA Nationals. IPA is affiliated with the Asian Pickleball Association (APA) and the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF).
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