Pickleball may have burst onto the scene during the pandemic, but in India the sport is still shaping its identity. Even so, its growth has been striking—drawing players from every age group and background. The Indian Pickleball Association (IPA), now recognised as a National Sports Federation (NSF), believes the next stage of development lies not in franchise leagues alone but in building a sustainable pathway from the grassroots up.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports granted NSF status to the IPA in April 2025, giving the federation authority to regulate and grow the sport formally. Since then, more than 150 sanctioned tournaments have been staged, including the country’s first Nationals and the launch of the Indian Pickleball League. IPA president Suryaveer Singh Bhullar says the focus now is on structured rankings, coach and referee education, and expansion into schools and government‑backed programmes such as CBSE sports and Khelo India.
“We’ve introduced a ranking system, launched coaching and referee certification, and conducted tournaments under the PWR framework,” Bhullar explained. Events now range from PWR 50 to PWR 1000, with organisers assigned categories based on clear guidelines.
Beyond the Metros
Bhullar admits the challenge is spreading pickleball beyond India’s metropolitan centres. Encouragingly, the Northeast has emerged as a strong hub, alongside growing participation in Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. Former tennis players are also making the switch, adding depth to the talent pool.
“Earlier, Gujarat and Maharashtra dominated, but that’s changing quickly,” Bhullar noted.
For the IPA, the future hinges on schools. More institutions are adopting pickleball and building courts, shifting attitudes that once made it difficult for students to compete. The federation has partnered with Sports Gurukul to launch an inter‑school championship and is in talks to include pickleball in CBSE sports and Khelo India.
On the equipment side, the IPA is working with USA Pickleball to establish India’s first paddle testing and certification laboratory. The facility, expected to be operational by year‑end, would cut costs and delays by eliminating the need to send paddles abroad for approval. Bhullar believes this will encourage domestic manufacturing and align with the Make in India vision.
The blueprint is clear: build courts, train coaches, and create pathways first—the champions will follow. For a sport still finding its feet, India’s pickleball journey is being carefully laid brick by brick, with the IPA determined to ensure the boom translates into lasting success.
