A new sport storms Delhi: Indian Pickleball League debuts
The inaugural season of the Indian Pickleball League launched at KD Jadhav Indoor Hall, Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on December 1. The league runs till Dec 7.
A new chapter in India’s alternative sports scene kicked off this week as the inaugural season of the Indian Pickleball League launched by the Times Group, opened at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall, Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
Having begun as a leisure hobby for many, pickleball is now gaining much recognition and is growing as a sport faster than ever. Known for being easy to learn, the sport has seen a surge in players across Delhi-NCR in recent years, especially among young working professionals and recreational sporting groups.
The evening began with a ceremonial lamp-lighting and the unveiling of the trophy. The league was formally inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Delhi, Rekha Gupta, who spoke about the evolving sporting landscape.
Also present was Vineet Jain, Managing Director of the Times Group, who highlighted the wider purpose behind the league. “We will have more than 500 seats assigned for school kids because we really want to grow this sport... When in the future people ask where the pickleball journey in India began, we will all look back at this moment in this arena today.”
Once the formalities were wrapped up, the attention shifted to the court as Bengaluru Blasters and Lucknow Leopards opened the season. India’s top-ranked player, Aditya Ruhela, received a warm response from the crowd as he faced Vietnamese international Phuc Huynh in the night’s first match. The league will feature six teams and is scheduled to run till December 7.
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