Pickleball rackets and balls on the pickleball court at Tropicana Park in Miami on March 23, 2023. (Jose A. Iglesias/El Nuevo Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Jose A. Iglesias | Jose A. Iglesias El Nuevo Herald | Getty Images
America’s fastest-growing sport, pickleball, is eyeing a new territory: India.
The United Pickleball Association and Global Sports announced an agreement Thursday to bring the PPA Tour and USA Pickleball Major League to the world’s most populous country.
This is the first international deal and major announcement for the United Pickleball Association, which was formed following the merger of Major League Pickleball and the Professional Pickleball Association last February of.
The PPA Tour and USA Pickleball League retained their unique brands following the merger. The PPA Tour is an individual group tour, while the MLP is team-based.
Terms of the deal have not been announced.
“The PPA India Tour and MLP India will create a pathway for players to compete on pickleball’s biggest stage and reach the top of the sport. Through our partnership with Global Sports, we will elevate the sport and bring it to the forefront Introduced to millions of new fans.
As part of the partnership, the PPA Tour will conduct its official tour in India in February next year. The India Open will be the PPA Tour’s first event in Asia and is expected to attract players from all over the world.
The deal will also launch the PPA India Tour, which will provide ranking points to players in events across the country.
Major League Pickleball, a team-based league, will host a tournament in India featuring players from India and professionals from the MLP and PPA circuits.
The Pickleball Association said the organization also plans to put MLP franchises up for sale with the goal of launching a full 12-team season in 2025-2026.
Franchise costs are expected to be in the seven-figure range, sources said.
In September, MLB Pickleball announced expansion Entering Australia.
APP Tour, which represents amateurs and seniors, is also active in taking the sport to India, the UK, Spain and Sweden.
Global Sports is at the forefront of bringing pickleball to India, operating courts and organizing tournaments in the country.
Shashank Khaitan, Partner, Global Sports, said: “The sport of pickleball in India has grown tremendously over the past few years and this will provide a platform for existing players to compete at the highest level.”
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