Pickleball boom: This trendy, social sport is winning hearts in India too

Ajit Pal Singh, a software engineer from Noida, first discovered pickleball through an Instagram reel. The clip showed a game that looked like a mix of tennis and badminton, which piqued his curiosity. After a quick Google search, he was hooked. Six months later, Singh and three friends were regulars at a popular pickleball center in Noida, playing almost every weekend.

For early pioneers like Sunil Valavalkar and Manish Rao, spreading the word about pickleball in India was a challenge. But today, the sport is quickly gaining traction in urban India, attracting players from ages eight to 80.

It’s hard to escape the growing popularity of pickleball. You’ve probably seen Andre Agassi or Leonardo DiCaprio playing pickleball. Even Novak Djokovic, who once suggested that pickleball was a threat to tennis, was seen trying his luck at the sport at an exhibition event for the 2023 US Open. In India, the sport has found fans in Bollywood actors and sporting icons.

This is not surprising: pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the world, and India is no exception.

Rajat, a 23-year-old finance professional, was introduced to the sport by Singh and now makes the 50-km journey from Gurugram to Noida every weekend to play.

“It’s less strenuous than tennis and a bit different from badminton,” says Rajat. “The sound of the paddle hitting the ball reminds me of cricket. As a cricket lover, I really enjoy it. It has become a weekly affair.”

Pickleball’s easy learning curve, social nature, and low physical impact have contributed to its widespread popularity. Its accessibility makes it appealing to all age groups and it is embraced both recreationally and competitively.

A PANDEMIC BOOM

The pandemic gave pickleball an unexpected boost. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the sport. People were drawn to the sport during lockdowns because of its easy setup and suitability for socially distanced play. It became a common sight in city alleys and parking lots.

In the United States of America, pickleball took off to such an extent that tennis courts were converted to it, since four pickleball courts fit on one tennis court. More courts meant more players and more revenue, which attracted the attention of investors and sports equipment manufacturers such as Selkirk, which began sponsoring players.

India has seen a similar boom after the pandemic. As recently as August 2024, a pickleball tournament was held with prize money worth USD 100,000. India has hosted major tournaments and Indian pickleball players have gone on to win medals in prestigious overseas competitions. An Indian Premier League-style competition for pickleball is also set to start in late 2024 or early 2025.

THE BASICS OF PICKLEBALL

1. Pickleball Equipment

Paddle: One Sturdy paddle, larger than a ping-pong bat but smaller than a tennis racket, made of wood, composite or graphite.

Ball:: A light plastic ball with holes, similar to a wiffle ball, that moves slower than a tennis ball.

2. Dimensions of the track

The dimensions of the court are 6×13.4 meters, for both singles and doubles.
A 2.13 meter no-volley zone at the net, called the “kitchen”, prevents volleys unless the ball bounces.

3. Gameplay

Objective: To hit the ball over the net into the opponent’s court without the ball being returned.

The serve is underhand and must bounce before it can be returned.

The team serving can only score points; games are played to 11 points, with a winning requirement of 2 points.

4. Rules for serving and returning

Double bounce rule: Both teams must bounce the ball once after serving before volleys are allowed.

THE ORIGIN AND ARRIVAL OF PICKLEBALL IN THE INDIA

Pickleball originated in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Three friends, Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum, invented the game using improvised equipment. It quickly became popular with the locals.

In India, the credit for introducing pickleball goes to Sunil Valavalkar, the founder of the All India Pickleball Association (AIPA). Valavalkar first came into contact with the sport when he went to British Columbia in 1999 as a project manager for an Indo-Canadian youth exchange program of the Indian government. There he was hosted by a sports enthusiast, Barry Mansfield and his family. It was Barry who introduced him to the sport.

“I played pickleball every morning during my 110-day stay. It was fun,” Sunil told IndiaToday.in.

But for Sunl, the Eureka moment didn’t come until he attended a tennis clinic during his trip to Cincinnati in 2006.

“From 2000 to 2006, I forgot about pickleball. I switched to tennis. But in Cincinnati, I had the chance to attend a tennis clinic. The coach there gave me instructions one day, ‘Sunil, sideways and swing.’ That was the slogan Barry used when I was learning pickleball,” he said.

“Then I realized, ‘Oh my gosh, this is very similar to pickleball.’ Tennis is a tough sport. Pickleball, on the other hand, is easy. I thought, I should probably introduce this sport to people in my community.

“I didn’t start playing tennis until I was 35. My reflexes on a tennis court weren’t that good. But on a pickleball court my reflexes were good enough to hit good shots. That gave me a lot of pleasure.

“When I returned from the 15-day trip to Cincinnati, I bought paddles, balls and a few promotional flyers for India. From 2007 onwards, I started promoting pickleball seriously in and around my community in Mumbai,” he added.

Upon his return to India, Sunil faced resistance. “It was a struggle. I initially taught my daughter and niece and took them to demonstrate the sport at local clubs and parking lots,” he said. “People were reluctant. Some even laughed at me. That’s when I decided to form the All India Pickleball Association in 2008.”

This decision was a turning point. The AIPA gave structure and legitimacy to the growth of the sport in India, which Sunil worked tirelessly to promote.

THE UNIQUE ATTRACTION OF PICKEBALL

What makes pickleball so special? Sunil believes it offers a level playing field that is rare in other sports.

“It can reshape society,” he says. “It’s more than just a sport. People often tell me they wish they had discovered pickleball earlier because it would have made them fitter and more emotionally balanced.”

One such person is Manish Rao, now the world ambassador of the International Federation of Pickleball and director of Franklin Sports India. Manish took up pickleball after meeting Sunil in 2014, and the sport helped him get back into shape after a back injury had kept him from other sports.

“I initially rejected it. But in 2014, I finally gave it a try and I loved it,” Manish recalls. Now, he is one of India’s biggest advocates for the sport. In 2017, he launched the Indian Pickleball Forum and today plays a pivotal role in promoting professional pickleball in the country.

PICKLEBALL GOES PROFESSIONAL

What started as a recreational sport has transformed into a competitive sport. When Manish organised an Open tournament in Mumbai in 2006, there were only three courts and about 100 players. There was no prize money, people played purely for the love of the game.

Fast forward to 2024, and the Monsoon Pickleball Championship in Mumbai offered a prize pool of USD 100,000. Nearly 800 players participated, and companies like Global Sports played a major role in supporting the infrastructure and sponsorship of the sport. The India Open in Mumbai was a huge success with over 700 athletes from 12 countries participating.

Today, India has over 1,000 pickleball courts, with Mumbai and Ahmedabad as major hubs. Delhi-NCR and Chennai are catching up fast. An estimated 10,000 players now play professionally, with more ‘closet players’, bringing the total to 70,000 across the country, according to Manish.

Pickleball has also gained popularity among corporate professionals who find it a fun way to de-stress and socialize outside of work. The game’s simplicity and community vibe have made it a hit.

A BRIGHT FUTURE

Quality pickleball equipment, once hard to find, is now easily available in India, with brands like Selkirk, Franklin and ProLite gaining popularity. Pickleball United has played a major role in the expansion of the sport by offering affordable and unique courts (Rollout courts) and equipment.

State associations are springing up, boot camps are being organized in schools, and tournaments with large prize pools are attracting more players. Manish estimates that pickleball is growing by 30 percent annually, both in terms of players and courts.

Although pickleball is rapidly evolving into a professional tour era, it has retained the charm of a community sport.

“There is more competition now than community. But still, 50 percent of our pickleball community is interested in recreation. We must have heard that after 40-45, we don’t make new friends. But with pickleball, everything has changed. We have a pickleball circle. You get invited to pickleball lunches and pickleball parties. We bore each other with pickleball stuff,” says Manish.

Pickleball is riding a wave of euphoria. It’s trendy, fun, and in the age of social media, it’s tailor-made for instant gratification. Even Indian men are eager to take a trip to the kitchen, thanks to pickleball. Celebrities from both Hollywood and Bollywood, as well as corporate executives, are embracing the sport.

With a global appeal and growing momentum, don’t be surprised if pickleball makes its way into the Olympics in the future with a concerted effort from various stakeholders. Imagine the 2036 Olympics in India with pickleball on the list!