India Set to Host World Pickleball Championship—Historic Event Is an Honour, Says AIPA President
India is gearing up to host the World Pickleball Championship (WPC) in Mumbai from 12 to 17 November. The hosting marks a historic first for the country, where pickleball has been growing at an exponential rate in the past years.
This international event will bring together around 650 athletes from diverse countries, including Australia, Vietnam, and Poland. The participation of picklers from various nations in and outside Asia highlights the growing global appeal of pickleball, a sport blending tennis, badminton, and table tennis.
The All India Pickleball Association (AIPA), which has been promoting the sport for so many years now, is in charge of organising this historic event in India’s pickleball history. The association’s president, Arvind Ramesh Prabhoo, highlighted the significance of this event, emphasising India’s emerging status as a key player in the global pickleball community. He also noted that the WPC is just the first in a list of events India will be hosting in the coming months.
“An honour for India to host the World Pickleball Championship, which we are holding in the month of November, from the 12th of November to the 17th of November,” Prabhoo said in an interview with ANI. “Following that, in January, we’ll be having the World Pickleball League in India. Both these events are very prestigious and we are lucky that the All India Pickleball Association is part of these events we are hosting.
This edition of the WPC aims to attract new fans to pickleball, building momentum within the Indian sports landscape. Notable athletes from around the world are set to compete, giving Indian fans an opportunity to witness high-level pickleball up close. The event is expected to serve as a platform for local players to test their skills against international talents, fostering greater recognition and growth of the sport in India.
AIPA has been at the forefront of this pickleball explosion in India, and the hosting of the WPC, according to Prabhoo, only means the association’s hard work at promoting the sport is being recognized.
“It is a great feeling for all of us at the All India Pickleball Association. We have been working tirelessly for the past 15 years to promote pickleball at the grassroots level. It now seems that our work is coming to some kind of recognition by all the pickleball players in the country and also in the world…,” Prabhoo added. “I think the World Pickleball Championship is a recognition for all the work that has been done.”
In recent years, pickleball’s popularity has surged in India, with increased participation across various age groups. The upcoming championship is poised to boost the sport’s visibility and inspire further participation, positioning India as an emerging hub for pickleball in the international sports community.
