Nepal will step onto the global pickleball stage for the very first time this year, as the Pickleball Association Nepal has officially unveiled the national squad for the 2026 Pickleball World Cup in Da Nang, Vietnam.
It marks a significant milestone for a sport that has only been nurtured in the country for the past five years. From Jhapa in the east to Surkhet and Jumla in the west, and from the Himalayan foothills down to the Terai, pickleball has quickly found its footing across communities and age groups.
From Schools to the Pickleball World Cup
The association has been driving growth through its From School to Olympics campaign, introducing training programmes, grassroots competitions, and awareness drives. Pickleball’s appeal lies in its accessibility—it blends elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, yet requires relatively modest infrastructure and cost.
Nepali players have already shown promise abroad, collecting medals in tournaments across Asia, Europe, and North America. That success has fuelled belief that the sport can also become a tourism draw, with international players and fans discovering Nepal through pickleball.
Private sector backing has helped make this World Cup debut possible. Bam Bam Hydration Drinks has come on board as the main sponsor, alongside contributions from other business organisations. Association President Saurabh Bhandari credited the collective effort of players, coaches, parents, and sponsors for turning the dream into reality, and expressed confidence that the team will deliver a strong performance.
The Road Ahead
Nepal will compete in both the open and senior categories. In the open division, they are grouped with Australia, Belgium, and Kenya. In the senior bracket, they will face South Africa, India, and Germany. With 64 nations taking part, the competition promises to be one of the largest gatherings of pickleball talent ever staged.
The World Cup runs from 20 August to 6 September in Da Nang, where Nepal’s debut will be closely watched—not just as a sporting contest, but as a symbol of how far the game has travelled in such a short time.
