Indian Pickleball Association Hold Milestone Meeting on Heels of NSF Recognition

The Indian Pickleball Association (IPA), recognised recently as the National Sports Federation (NSF) for pickleball by India’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), convened in New Delhi to commemorate the landmark recognition it got from the Government of India.

This milestone achievement is a pivotal moment for pickleball in India as it positions the sport on par with other major sports like cricket and basketball. The MYAS recognition will also unlock new avenues for pickleball’s structured development, provide it more funding, and allow for nationwide promotion.

The meeting served to outline the IPA’s next moves to promote and cultivate pickleball across India. It gathered the association’s board members and key stakeholders, along with representatives from multiple states and union territories as well as the Presidents and General Secretaries of over 25 states.

“The official recognition as a National Sports Federation is a historic milestone, but it is also a call to action. We all are committed to establishing a world-class sporting structure for pickleball in India, focusing on talent identification, equitable access, professional training, and global competitiveness. Our mission is to win medals for India at the junior and pro levels on the international stage. With the expertise of our leadership and the passion of our community, we aim to make pickleball a household name and position India as a global powerhouse in the sport.”

– Suryaveer Singh Bhullar, President of IPA

Indian Pickleball Association Outlines Big, Bold Plans

Among the IPA’s key announcements during the meeting are as follows:

• It plans to hold more than 100 pickleball events this year alone in different states in India and across all age groups in both men’s and women’s.
• It plans to launch the Indian Pickleball Rankings.
• It plans to establish a structured, inclusive, and professionally managed picklebal ecosystem. Its goal is to ensure nationwide participation and grassroots growth.
• It plans to launch India’s first official Pickleball Nationals under MYAS. It is expected to draw over 1,000 players from across 25 states in both individual and team formats.
• It plans to partner with the Times Group to launch a flagship league featuring Indian and international athletes. Part of this league will be a year-end Masters tournament to crown top-ranked players.
• It plans to engage with global organisations to help make India a significant player in the international pickleball stage. One way the IPA hopes accomplish this is by hosting the first Official Asia Cup and pursue Olympic recognition through the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF)

Morever, the IPA is looking to establish academy accreditation and technical training for coaches and referees and incorporate institutional integration via Khelo India and school networks. These steps will be crucial in creating a robust and sustainable pickleball ecosystem in India.

The IPA also announced it will work actively for pickleball’s Olympic inclusion while also preparing Indian picklers for elite global competition. Additionally, the IPA has committed to several long-term initiatives that include infrastructure development projects in collaboration with local governments and the launch of coaching certification programs and pickleball academies in major cities.

“The landmark decision by MYAS to recognise IPA as National Sports Federation is the beginning of a revolution in Pickleball. Our goal is to make India a Pickleball hub of the world. By fostering partnerships and encouraging inclusive participation, we will elevate pickleball to new heights, making it accessible, competitive, and thriving for generations to come.”

– Aalap Sharma, Treasurer of IPA

Indian Pickleball Association Is Still Facing Opposition from AIPA

Curiously, the IPA’s recent meeting was held despite stiff opposition from the All India Pickleball Association (AIPA). The AIPA, in fact, has asked the Delhi High Court to look into the IPA’s recognition as NSF of pickleballm arguing that the former does not deserve said honour due to a number of reasons—mainly its relative infancy compared to AIPA.

What’s more, the IPA is only six months old, while AIPA has been in existence for nearly two decades now, having been established way back in 2007. It also has more members—over 10,000—and is present in 24 Indian states.

At the moment, however, it appears the IPA is undeterred by the AIPA’s protestations and is proceeding like an NSF already. Whether or not it remains as pickleball’s main and undisputed governing in India is anyone’s guess.