Global Sports Co-Launches Indian Open 2026 as First IPA-Sanctioned PWR 1000 Pickleball Competition
The Indian Open 2026 is set to make history as the first Indian Pickleball Association (IPA)-sanctioned PWR 1000 event, marking a significant partnership between the IPA and tournament organiser Global Sports.
Scheduled from 1 to 5 April 2026 at the Crosscourts in Hyderabad, Telangana, the tournament is expected to attract more than 1,500 participants competing across 56 categories. A prize pool of USD $50,000 will be on the line, according to a press release.
The upcoming edition will be the fourth Indian Open organised by Global Sports. In previous years, the event has drawn more than 4,000 pickleball players from 19 countries across all categories, underscoring its growing stature on the international stage.
This year’s edition carries added significance after receiving official sanctioning from the IPA. The move is expected to legitimise the event’s structure and address a long-standing gap in the Indian pickleball ecosystem.
The partnership formally integrates India’s largest private pickleball tournament series into the national governance framework under the IPA. The association is the sole governing body for pickleball in India after receiving National Sports Federation status from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. As part of the agreement, all future Global Sports events will now fall under the IPA’s jurisdiction.
Suryaveersingh Bhullar, President of the IPA, described the collaboration as a major step forward for the sport in the country.
“This partnership is a milestone for Indian sports. By bringing Global Sports into the IPA fold, we are ensuring that every volley played in the Indian Open contributes to a single, unified vision for the country. We are committed to providing our athletes with a world-class platform that is governed by the highest standards of integrity and excellence,” Bhullar said.
Shashank Khaitan, Co-Founder and Partner of Global Sports and a Bollywood writer and director, said the partnership strengthens the organisation’s mission to develop pickleball in India.
“At Global Sports, our mission has always been to build a robust infrastructure for Pickleball. Aligning with the IPA allows us to formalise our efforts and ensure our players receive the national recognition they deserve. The Global Sports Indian Open becoming a PWR 1000 event is just the beginning of a long and fruitful journey to make India a global hub for the sport,” Khaitan said.
Global Sports has played a key role in staging major pickleball tournaments in India, including the Monsoon Pickleball Championship and the recently concluded Grand Slam. With the Indian Open now upgraded to PWR 1000 status, the event will introduce a uniform ranking system and centralised governance, creating official player pathways, standardised competition levels, and improved data integrity for athletes.
