Local sister-brother duo net bronze at world championships

Siblings Nikita and Vedant Chauhan, members of the ClubSport Pleasanton junior racquetball team, earned individual and team bronze medals at an international racquetball competition held last month in Colombia.

Nikita, 13, finished third in the Girls Singles Blue division while her 10-year-old brother Vedant finished third in the Boys Singles Red division. The Chauhans each took home another bronze medal as part of Team USA, which came in third place behind Mexico (gold) and Bolivia (silver).

Nikita and Vedant live in San Ramon and train at the Pleasanton sports club. This was the first time either had participated in the annual International Racquetball Federation World Junior Racquetball Championships, which this year ran Oct. 19-25 in Cali, Colombia.

“It’s a huge accomplishment for these young athletes to represent the USA in this sport,” said the Chauhans’ coach, Elaine Dexter, who is also ClubSport Pleasanton’s racquetball director. “They work hard at refining their skills. Their success means a lot to those of us who have worked with them and see them develop into amazing, accomplished players.”

Nikita and Vedant qualified for the World Junior Championships by winning their respective divisions at the 2014 National Junior Olympic Championships held in Colorado in June.

“Racquetball is still a growing sport in the U.S., so for Nikita and Vedant to take third in the world championships is a hard-earned honor.,” Dexter added.

ClubSport Pleasanton’s junior program is no stranger to success at the World Junior Racquetball Championships. Local player Julian Singh earned a medal for Team USA at last year’s competition in Bolivia.