The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLP) are set to make their debut in India in 2025, marking a significant milestone in the country’s sports landscape.
Global Sports, the United Pickleball Association announce this exciting Partnership to launch PPA India and MLP India. The partnership will also focus on Developing infrastructure and facilities for pickleball in India, creating training programs and coaching certifications, hosting international tournaments and events and promoting the sport
PPA and MLP target the growing popularity of Pickleball in India
The PPA Tour, a global governing body of men’s and women’s professional pickleball, serves the sport by showcasing top athletes at prestigious tournaments. The tour includes 26 stops across the United States, culminating in the PPA Finals, a prestigious event featuring the top eight qualified singles players and doubles teams.
Major League Pickleball, on the other hand, offers an innovative format featuring teams of two men and two women who compete as a team. Since its inception in 2021, MLP has expanded to 24 teams and six tournaments, adding excitement and drama to the league.
20 Pro PPA Tour Players will participate in the PPA India, Monsoon Pickleball Championship Edition 2, being held in August 2024 in Mumbai. Pickleball fans will also get to experience live, an exhibition event by the best players in the world.
The Indian Open 2025 will debut as a PPA Tour official event, offering 1500 ranking points and attracting the best pro players from across the world.
The introduction of these two prominent sport entities in India signifies the growing popularity of the sport in the country. Pickleball, a sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong, has gained significant popularity in India over the years. The All India Pickleball Association (AIPA), founded by Sunil Valavalkar in 2008, has been promoting the sport in India for over 15 years.
The sport’s rise in India is deeply intertwined with the unwavering passion of Sunil Valavalkar. Despite initial scepticism, his relentless pursuit and organic growth through demonstrations and school visits gradually yielded results. His efforts culminated in the formation of the AIPA, laying the groundwork for the sport’s gradual acceptance and growth.
The recent conclusion of the Pickleball Indian Open 2024 has seen a tremendous response from the players and the spectators. The league has seen a never before enthusiasm as the emerging sport in India is extensively supported by former Tennis and Badminton stars, Bollywood celebrities, and mega corporates.
The arrival of the PPA Tour and MLP in India is expected to further boost the sport’s popularity, providing Indian players with an opportunity to compete against some of the world’s best. This will not only elevate the standard of sport in India but also provide a platform for Indian players to showcase their talent on a global stage.
Moreover, the introduction of these tours will likely stimulate the development of infrastructure and training facilities for the sport in India. This could lead to increased participation in the sport, from the grassroots to the professional level, further solidifying pickleball’s place in the Indian sports ecosystem.
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 Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLP) are set to make their debut in India in 2025, marking a significant milestone in the country’s sports landscape.){kind=link}