AIPA Challenges IPA, India’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Over ‘Questionable’ Recognition
Not even a month after the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) recognised the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) as the national sports federation (NSF) of the sport in India, there’s already stiff opposition to said decision.
The main opposing force to the surprise recognition is the All India Pickleball Association (AIPA), which asked the Delhi High Court to look into the matter. AIPA’s bone of contention is that the IPA does not deserve to be the NSF of pickleball in India for a number of reasons—mainly its relative infancy compared to AIPA. 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.
“The Indian sports ministry has recognised the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA), which is a six-month-old association. It was formed in November 2024. We had already applied for recognition in October 2024, one month prior to even the formation of IPA, AIPA president Arvind Prabhoo told Firstpost. “Now it has come as a big surprise, relaxing the two statutory requirements that the federation should be at least three years in operation and that it has to be present in 50% of the states.
Was the MYAS Misled by IPA?
The AIPA is also contending that IPA was recognised only after duping the MYAS.
“How can the Ministry relax statutory requirements when there’s an existing federation available and that has already applied?” Prabhoo added. “I think the Ministry was misled by making some representation; we are not very sure, but according to me, the Ministry has been misled about certain facts by the other federation.”
The MYAS recognised the IPA as India’s national federation for pickleball on 25 April. As the NSF, it now has exclusive rights to receive financial grants from the government, along with the autonomy to regulate, promote, and develop pickleball nationally.
Prabhoo is not about to let that happen—at least not without a fight. And he firmly believes the facts are on AIPA’s side.
“AIPA is in 24 states. We have about 10,000 players who are directly associated with us,” Prabhoo added. “We hold four national ranking tournaments and we hold one national tournament every year. We have held eight national tournaments since 2013 and we have done two international tournaments. One was in 2022 and one was in 2024, the World Pickleball Championships. We have sent our players to Asian countries where we have won gold at Asian Pickleball Games two times in a row in Taiwan and our players are also World Pickleball Championships gold medallists, so we have over 100 international medals with our players.”
From on the Doorstep of Recognition to Being Left Out
Prabhoo also revealed that AIPA was on the verge of getting NSF recognition based on the merits—the organisation has been around since 2007, it has over 10,000 athletes, and has done everything to promote pickleball in India. He also claimed that AIPA has been in constant communication with MYAS and is always ready to furnish the ministry with whatever requirements it may need.
“We were having talks with some people with the ministry and we were hoping that if there are any requirements from our end, we were ready to meet and fulfil that. Our founder, Sunil Walavalkar also met Raksha Khadse [Minister of State in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of India] one and a half months ago. We were unable to meet Minister Mansukh Mandaviya as he was very busy. We met officials and secretaries there, asking if there’s anything that needs to be done,” he said.
“As far as the secretary is concerned, we were informed we were absolutely inline to get the recognition. There was no other compliance required. She did mention we should try and meet the honourable minister because the other federation also had made a presentation directly to the minister,” Prabhoo added. “But we were trying to meet the minister but we could not get an appointment. In fact, there was a call made on our behalf by a senior member of the government whereby the honourable minister had assured the senior member that he would call me personally, that is, Arvind Prabhoo and other members of the federation but that never happened. So, this has come as a big shock and surprise that, without giving us a chance to represent ourselves, the order came out.”
A Long Legal Battle Is Looming
These developments, it appears, have left Prabhoo and AIPA no other choice but to take the matter straight to the Delhi High Court. He also said that the association will take things to the Supreme Court if necessary.
Of course, Prabhoo is hoping this issue doesn’t have to go that far as he has left the door open for MYAS and AIPA to sort things out moving forward. But, from the look of things, it appears the battle has only just begun. And unfortunately, it will be in the High Court and not the pickleball court.
