Pickleball is a delightful game designed for the entire family, and fittingly, it was conceived by a family as well. The sport originated in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, a charming locale just a short ferry ride from Seattle, Washington. One sunny summer day, Congressmen Joel Pritchard, William Bell, and Barney McCallum returned home from a round of golf to find their children restless and bored. Inspired to create a game that would engage their kids during the languid summer days, they sought to develop a sport that was both challenging and accessible. Armed with ping-pong paddles and a wiffle ball, they lowered the net on their badminton court, and thus, a new pastime was born. In the days that followed, both children and adults quickly fell in love with this innovative game.
Pickleball is heralded as the world’s most enjoyable racket sport, played on a court measuring 20 feet by 44 feet, making it suitable for participants of all athletic abilities. This engaging sport seamlessly combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. Players use a wiffle ball—a lightweight, perforated plastic ball—and can compete in either singles or doubles matches. Like tennis, it accommodates men, women, mixed couples, adaptive players, and individuals of all ages. Opponents rally the pickleball over a 36inch high net using either composite or wooden paddles. After serving the ball into the opposing corner, players engage in a spirited back-and-forth, striking the ball either in mid-air or after a single bounce. Points are scored by the serving team when the opposing team fails to return the ball, hits it out of bounds, or commits another infraction. The serve then passes to the next player, and each point is played out in this lively contest.
Sunil Valavalkar, a passionate sports enthusiast, first encountered pickleball in Canada in 1999. His fascination with the sport led him to return to Canada in 2006, where he brought back paddles and balls to India. Upon his return, he began demonstrating this unique sport to various sports aficionados in Mumbai. To his delight, pickleball was warmly embraced by a diverse audience. The modern Indian population is eager for a sport that is easy to learn, enjoyable, and promotes fitness, and pickleball meets all these desires. Today, the sport has expanded to 16 states across India, boasting around 3,000 registered players who actively participate in national and international tournaments. The establishment of the All India Pickleball Association (AIPA) marked a significant milestone in the history of Indian pickleball, paving the way for structured growth and development of the sport.
India has witnessed a surge of pickleball tournaments over the years, organized by the AIPA at both national and state levels, as well as by private entities. Notably, a Global Sports Pickleball Championship is currently taking place in Mumbai. Since 2013, with the exception of the pandemic-affected year of 2020, the AIPA has hosted national tournaments across various categories in cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Panipat, Jaipur, and Dehradun. Additionally, a national ranking tournament was held in Goa, further solidifying the sport’s presence in the country.
Engaging in pickleball offers numerous health benefits, including:
Through its blend of fun, fitness, and social interaction, pickleball has become a cherished activity for many, promising a bright future as it continues to grow in popularity both in India and around the world.
