Jeweller Sanjay Pattni was inspired by his love of one of the world’s fastest growing sports to create a line of pickleball jewellery, which he proudly displayed at the Skechers English Open.

There was no shortage of people to admire the owner of Mayfair Jewellers’ work, as the 2024 English Open was the largest pickleball event to take place outside of North America, with a record number of almost 2,000 players from 42 countries taking part.

Pattni, a self-confessed pickleball addict, is one of around 30,000 people to play the sport in the United Kingdom and there are over 700 places in which to play, with pickleball displaying an exponential growth in recent years.

Mayfair’s line includes a diamond paddle pendant which is able to be customised and is endorsed by the British women’s No.1, Thaddea Lock.

Pattni said: “One day I was at this pickleball festival and Thaddea was there, and she was kitted out in all this fancy gear, Skechers, things like that and I asked her ‘who sponsors your jewellery then?’

“All I could see was a diamond paddle set on her, I could just visualise it in my head.

“She said no-one, so I said: ‘Let’s make one for you,’ and that’s how the journey started.”

Pattni was one of the sponsors of the English Open and had a stand throughout the seven days of high-level competition at the Telford International Centre, where Lock was present to promote his product.

On his experience in Shropshire, Pattni said: “It’s been great because there’s so much energy here.

“Everyone is just on a natural high playing pickleball and they come over here and their energy just bounces off. It’s been an experience, a good, fun experience.

“I’ve got the bug now because everyone is so happy and I will definitely be involved in future events, for sure.”

Pickleball England has announced a record number of players competing at this year’s English OPEN from the 8th-14th August at the Telford International Centre in the largest pickleball event taking place outside of the USA EVER – visit pickleballengland.org