Former Ohio Republican Politician Takes Shot At St. Henry Pickleball Courts

(5-30-26) Former Republican State Senator and State Representative in the Ohio General Assembly Niraj Antani….the1st Gujarati Hindu state elected official in American history… recently posted about the new pickleball courts in St. Henry.

Gujarati Hindus are an ethno-religious group originating from the Gujarat region of western India who practice Hinduism. They speak the Gujarati language, an Indo-Aryan tongue derived from Sanskrit. They form a prominent part of the global Indian diaspora with established communities in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, East Africa, and Australia.

On a recent ‘X’ posting he celebrated that he was proud to have voted against the bill that gave the St. Henry community pickleball courts.

I was very proud to vote against this bill in 2024. One of my proudest votes. $450,000 of taxpayer dollars for a pickleball court is unconscionable. https://t.co/fyuvi2KQjS

— Niraj Antani (@NirajAntani) May 30, 2026

State Rep Angie King of Celina (also a Republican) replied to Antani’s post defending the courts.

Parks and recreation facilities are investments in community health, quality of life, and opportunities for people of all ages to stay active.

It's easy to dismiss a pickleball and basketball courts if you don't use one, but communities benefit when residents have safe,… https://t.co/QEBCz20svn

— Angie King (@AngieNadineKing) May 30, 2026

In 2014 he was appointed state representative to the 42^nd House District seat. He represented the 6th district in the Ohio State Senate from 2021 to 2024. Antani ran for Congress in 2024 but was unsuccessful.

Today, I turn 35 years old. Three weeks ago, I ended a campaign for State Treasurer. Two years ago, I lost a campaign for Congress.

Admittedly, after a decade of winning elections, this season of challenge has been disappointing, discouraging, difficult. Knowing this, a longtime… pic.twitter.com/JmESuil9lJ

— Niraj Antani (@NirajAntani) February 26, 2026