What is pickleball and why is it popular in India’s urban hubs like Mumbai?
23 hours, 14 minutes ago

What is pickleball and why is it popular in India’s urban hubs like Mumbai?

Al Jazeera  

Invented as a back-yard children’s game in the US, pickleball has rapidly become a global sport with India’s space-challenged metropolises leading the expansion. “The low barrier to entry makes it very easy for anyone to love the sport,” said Chirag Shrivastav, co-founder of Elev8, a sports company that arranges pickleball gatherings. Yashodhan Nakhare, a former national-level junior tennis player, has been playing pickleball four times a week for six months in Bengaluru’s affluent Indiranagar neighbourhood and is part of a small group called “Pickle Ricklers”. “Since that tournament, there has been no end to pickleball’s rising popularity, and even us players have received great exposure.” Thakare and Vishwakarma are two of the many players supported by the All India Pickleball Association. “The purpose of this league is to make it a commercial success and grow the ecosystem of pickleball in India,” said Gaurav Natekar, co-founder of the league.

Bengaluru Sport Mumbai Players Game Indian Vishwakarma Waghmare Prabhoo Tennis Play Urban Hubs India Pickleball  popular  indias  tennis  play  game  india  pickleball  mumbai  urban  hubs  sport  community  players  prabhoo

History of this topic

Australian Open to provide platform for pickleball from 2025
3 days, 12 hours ago

Australian Open to provide platform for pickleball from 2025

The Hindu  

The Australian Open will embrace one of the fastest-growing sports in the world when it hosts the inaugural AO Pickleball Slam on the final weekend of next month’s tennis major with $100,000 in prize money. “Pickleball is a sport for everyone, and its rapid growth globally highlights its unique ability to connect people of all ages and backgrounds,” said Tennis …

World Pickleball League: Gaurav Natekar confident of revolutionary inaugural season
3 days, 23 hours ago

World Pickleball League: Gaurav Natekar confident of revolutionary inaugural season

India Today  

Pickleball, one of the fastest-growing sports worldwide, is poised to make a significant splash in India with the inaugural edition of the World Pickleball League. The WPBL, co-founded by former Indian tennis stars Gaurav Natekar and Arati Ponnappa Natekar, promises a competitive and inclusive spectacle while tapping into pickleball's growing community appeal. For Gaurav Natekar, a seven-time national tennis champion …

What the Pickleball World Rankings DUPR India League, launched by Andre Agassi and Rohan Bopanna in Mumbai, is all about
1 week, 1 day ago

What the Pickleball World Rankings DUPR India League, launched by Andre Agassi and Rohan Bopanna in Mumbai, is all about

Firstpost  

The newly-launched PWR DUPR India League, which is expected to take place in early 2025 in Mumbai, is expected to boost pickleball’s growth even further in a country where even football, the world’s most popular sport, has struggled to compete with cricket. Eight-time Grand Slam champion and former ATP world No 1 Andre Agassi and Indian tennis icon Rohan Bopanna …

Busy young professionals turn to sport to boost social circles
2 weeks, 6 days ago

Busy young professionals turn to sport to boost social circles

China Daily  

Qin Yun, co-founder of Banks Tennis, relaxes on a net post. A study of engagement in urban sports jointly released by sportswear brand Skechers, newspaper Southern Weekly, and a research center under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in August, showed the expanding diversity of fitness activities in China. "The success of pickleball in China stems from its unique position …

Busy young professionals turn to sport to boost social circles
2 weeks, 6 days ago

Busy young professionals turn to sport to boost social circles

China Daily  

Qin Yun, co-founder of Banks Tennis, relaxes on a net post. A study of engagement in urban sports jointly released by sportswear brand Skechers, newspaper Southern Weekly, and a research center under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in August, showed the expanding diversity of fitness activities in China. "The success of pickleball in China stems from its unique position …

Pickleball association approaches sports ministry for NSF status
1 month ago

Pickleball association approaches sports ministry for NSF status

Deccan Chronicle  

Mumbai: The governing body for pickleball has approached the sports ministry for recognition as a National Sports Federation following the successful hosting of the inaugural World Championship here this month, said All India Pickleball Association chief Arvind Prabhoo on Monday.The World Pickleball Championship was held here from November 12-17 with around 650 players from countries like Australia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Poland, …

World Pickleball Championship: How a fledgling sport is scaling new heights
1 month ago

World Pickleball Championship: How a fledgling sport is scaling new heights

Hindustan Times  

The iconic Cricket Club of India in Mumbai, and its hallowed tennis courts where legends have set foot and celebrated Davis Cup tales scripted, was transformed. “It’s like a proper circuit,” said Isha Lakhani, India’s former professional tennis player who was ranked in the world’s top 25 in juniors a decade ago and took up pickleball in 2022. “Next year, …

All India Pickleball Association partners with Bingo! before World Pickleball Championship India leg
1 month, 1 week ago

All India Pickleball Association partners with Bingo! before World Pickleball Championship India leg

The Hindu  

Indian snack brank Bingo has penned a five-year partnership with the All India Pickleball Association to promote the sport in India. The first major competition after the deal will be the India leg of the World Pickleball Championship, set to be played in Mumbai from November 12 to 17. With Bingo!’s extensive reach and vibrant brand presence, this partnership aspires …

Armaan Bhatia's Triple Threat at India Masters Pickleball Championship
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Armaan Bhatia's Triple Threat at India Masters Pickleball Championship

Live Mint  

Armaan Bhatia aims for a historic treble at the India Masters Pickleball Championship. He and his partner Roos Van Reek will compete in the mixed doubles final, where they will face the tandem George Wall and Danni Townsend. Bhatia is the only contestant in the $50,000 event to compete in three finals on Sunday, and he is hoping for a …

India joins global Pickleball, Padel boom as sports surpass tennis' growth
3 months, 1 week ago

India joins global Pickleball, Padel boom as sports surpass tennis' growth

Firstpost  

Pickleball and padel, fast-growing racket sports, have surged in popularity globally. All of Mumbai’s prominent clubs such as Juhu Gymkhana, Khar Gymkhana, Cricket Club of India, Bombay Gymkhana, Willingdon Gym have pickleball courts now. The most troubling aspect for tennis is that pickleball’s rise has often come at the expense of thousands of tennis courts encroached upon or even replaced …

The economics of the tennis v pickleball contest
3 months, 3 weeks ago

The economics of the tennis v pickleball contest

Live Mint  

Which is the greatest rivalry in tennis? In Arlington, Virginia, a group called “Team Pickle-nah” leafleted the area around tennis courts due to be converted into pickleball ones, accusing pickleballers of hijacking courts, bullying children and urinating in public. America now has 14m pickleball players, triple the number in 2020 and not far short of the 24m tennis players. In …

All set for pickleball league
3 months, 3 weeks ago

All set for pickleball league

New Indian Express  

CHENNAI: Over the past couple of years, pickleball has become one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. From school kids to retired professionals, people are taking to pickleball for various reasons and the All India Pickleball Association is doing their bidding in promoting the sport, especially with the possibility of pickleball being included in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. Owned …

Pickleball explained: A beginner's guide to rules, equipment, court and scoring system and more
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Pickleball explained: A beginner's guide to rules, equipment, court and scoring system and more

Hindustan Times  

Pickleball is a game that has gained popularity quite quickly in India, particularly in the big cities. Basic rules According to the AIPA, the serve must be hit underhand and each side must play the first shot off the bounce. The AIPA defines "volley" as the act of hitting the ball in the air without letting it bounce. The AIPA …

Pickleball is only getting more popular – tennis is running scared
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Pickleball is only getting more popular – tennis is running scared

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Quite frankly, it’s obnoxious to hear that pickleball noise,” U.S. Tennis Association President Dr. …

Does American tennis have a pickleball problem?
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Does American tennis have a pickleball problem?

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Does American tennis have a pickleball problem? “Quite frankly, it’s obnoxious to hear that pickleball noise,” U.S. Tennis Association President Dr. Brian Hainline grumbled at a recent state-of-the-game news conference, bemoaning the distinctive pock, pock, pock of pickleball points. In fact, the USTA is flipping the script on pickleball with an ambitious launch of more than 400 …

How my pickleball obsession took me to Palm Beach
4 months, 1 week ago

How my pickleball obsession took me to Palm Beach

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery The PGA National Resort recently added 12 pickleball courts This is how I found myself sweating …

The Best Pickleball Equipment For Beginners
8 months, 1 week ago

The Best Pickleball Equipment For Beginners

Huff Post  

The U.S. Open tennis tournament may not be happening for another few months but many casual and frequent tennis players alike are turning in their rackets for paddles in order to play a sport of smaller proportions: pickleball. According to the USA Pickleball Association, this low-stakes game is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, with a reported 4.8 …

4 new, trendy sports that Indians are playing
10 months, 4 weeks ago

4 new, trendy sports that Indians are playing

Live Mint  

When it comes to following and watching sports, us Indians are an enthusiastic lot. However, this passive consumption of sport in the country doesn’t translate into active participation where people take up these sports and play for recreation, points out Divyanshu Singh, COO of JSW Sports. While cricket remains the most popular sport even when it comes to playing, the …

Paving the way of maximising Pickleball's potential in India
1 year, 3 months ago

Paving the way of maximising Pickleball's potential in India

Hindustan Times  

Cornerstone Sport, a renowned sports management and talent representation agency, has proudly unveiled its collaboration with Global Sports to proudly present the Monsoon Pickleball Championship in the vibrant city of Mumbai, India. Having triumphantly organized two resounding championships earlier in 2023, namely the Indian Open in Goa boasting participation from over 240 players, and the esteemed Global Sports Pickleball Championship …

The craze for pickleball
1 year, 7 months ago

The craze for pickleball

Live Mint  

The first thing that caught Shubhada Varadkar’s trained ear was the sound of the perforated polymer ball striking against the paddle. “You feel like you are wanted in sport, where usually once you are 35-40 you are out.” A hybrid of tennis, badminton and table tennis, pickleball is mainly played outdoor and looks a lot like tennis, but on a …

Let’s play pickleball: Why this game is growing in popularity in Chennai
2 years, 5 months ago

Let’s play pickleball: Why this game is growing in popularity in Chennai

The Hindu  

It's a question that K Mohit Kumar gets often. Even as he skilfully chops the ball on a windy Saturday morning at the recently-held South India Pickleball Premier League at Hotfut SPR Sports in Perambur, Mohit answers questions from curious onlookers. "Now, I hear it so often," he says, "A lot of players book centers through us to play pickleball; …

Discover Related