India continued its impressive run at the 2026 Pickleball World Cup in Da Nang, Vietnam, with veteran Bhushan Akut on Tuesday pulling out a golden hat-trick for 60+ mixed doubles with Elizabeth Wilcox. His gold medal was India’s fifth gold medal in the tournament, taking its total medal count to 25.
So Akut’s success has been an important step in India’s campaign in Vietnam. The veteran player has become so consistent in singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles with the consistency he has won titles in each of them. He has also found the ability to play in different formats and partner of course is one of the key to India’s success in World Cup.
The 60+ mixed doubles final provided Akut with an opportunity to complete his three-title sweep and he and Wilcox made the most of it. Their victory ended an impressive run for the Indian veteran who had already established himself as a champion earlier in the tournament.
Akut started his campaign by winning the 60+ men’s singles title. In an all-Indian final he defeated Ashok Rohira of India to get India’s first gold medal at the event. He immediately established himself as one of the players to watch in the senior age category.
His success continued in the 60+ men’s doubles competition. Akut teamed up with Rohira, the same player he defeated in the singles final, and the two came together and won the gold medal. The partnership of experience, composure and competitive intensity of their two teams gave India another important title in Da Nang.
The mixed doubles victory with Elizabeth Wilcox completed the golden hat-trick. Three different titles at a major international tournament is a remarkable achievement especially when it comes to singles and doubles. Akut’s performances have thus become an important part of India’s campaign at this edition of the Pickleball World Cup.
The achievement also has wider significance for the Indian squad. Akut’s success has contributed to the country’s fifth gold medal of the tournament and the overall medal count has now reached 25. India has won medals at different age groups and categories which also shows the talent in pickleball.
The 25-medal mark is significant in that it matches India's total from the previous edition of the Pickleball World Cup in the United States in 2025. India had won 25 medals in that competition including eight gold, eight silver and nine bronze.
And with four more days of competition remaining in the 2026 tournament, India still has a chance to break that record. The team has done the job so far and there is some hope that the country could finish this competition with a new medal record.
And Akut’s tournament is not quite over yet. After three gold medals, the veteran will lead India in the 60+ team event. That competition is where he can complete a quadruple and potentially add another gold to his already impressive collection.
In the team event, consistency, tactical awareness and the ability to perform well under pressure is particularly relevant. Akut is already a winner in singles and both doubles and has many more chances in the final stage to contend with.
India will also hope to build on its medal-winning performances during the remaining events. Akut has emerged as one of the faces of the campaign but the total score shows contributions from the players who have competed in different categories.
The 2026 Pickleball World Cup also provides another great platform for Indian players to show their growing involvement in the sport. In the present day of pickleball across the globe, performances such as Akut’s three-gold campaign is a great example of the level of experience and competition India has with all age groups.
With 25 medals in hand and several days of action remaining, India will now try to go beyond its 2025 haul. Akut, however, will have the chance to turn an already captivating campaign into an even more memorable one if he guides the Indian 60+ team to another title.
