Latest news with #PicklebayIndiaTour
India Gazette
26-06-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
Picklebay India Tour sells out in Bengaluru with 300+ registrations for pickleball
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 26 (ANI): After a high-energy start in Mumbai, the Picklebay India Tour 2025 now moves to Bengaluru, marking the second stop in this 10-city national journey to elevate and celebrate pickleball in India. The two-day tournament will be held on 28th and 29th June at GoRally, Whitefield, one of the city's premier pickleball venues, as per a press release from Picklebay. With over 300 player registrations, the Bengaluru edition is completely sold out, prompting organisers to close entries well ahead of schedule--a testament to the sport's booming popularity and Picklebay's rising influence in India's sports landscape. Players from across the country, including Chennai, Kerala, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and more, will compete in Singles and Doubles categories for both men and women, with divisions for Beginners, Intermediates, and Advanced players. The tournament also boasts a prize pool of Rs 2.5 lakh, to be awarded to winners from the semi-final stage onwards. Adding to the tournament's stature, some of India's top-ranked pickleball players will also take part, setting the stage for two days of high-calibre competition and community celebration. 'The energy we witnessed in Mumbai was electric, and Bengaluru has taken it up a notch. Selling out over 300 spots well before the deadline shows that the hunger for structured, inclusive pickleball is real and growing,' said Siddhant Jatia, Founder & CEO of Picklebay. 'With the Picklebay India Tour, our vision is to build more than just a competitive platform--we're building a national movement. Bengaluru is the perfect example of how this sport is catching fire, city by city, player by player,' he added. As India's first and largest end-to-end pickleball platform, Picklebay continues to drive the sport's growth with a powerful combination of technology, tournaments, infrastructure, and grassroots community-building. The Picklebay India Tour 2025 will continue its journey across 10 major cities, uniting players from every skill level and region while creating pathways to competitive and recreational success. (ANI)
India Gazette
10-06-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
India No. 8 Avinash Kumar lauds Picklebay as a launchpad for aspiring talent in pickleball
New Delhi, [India] June 10 (ANI): As Pickleball continues its remarkable rise in India, Picklebay has emerged as a promising new platform for players across the country to compete, grow, and get noticed, according to a release from AIPA. Among the top contenders at the Picklebay India Tour is 24-year-old Avinash Kumar, currently ranked No. 8 in India and 24th in Asia in men's singles (as per the DUPR rankings). Avinash, who recently clinched the silver medal in the Men's Open Singles category at the Mumbai leg of the Picklebay India Tour, believes the Tournament Series is setting a new benchmark for the sport in India. 'Picklebay is a fantastic platform, especially for new and emerging players. It gives us the opportunity to play across different states and helps young athletes get the visibility they need. The format and professionalism here make it a tournament that will definitely grow bigger with time,' Avinash Kumar said. Hailing from Patna, Bihar, Avinash's sporting journey began in cricket before he stumbled upon pickleball through a newspaper article around eight years ago. 'I googled it, connected with Bihar Pickleball Association's Secretary, Ranjan Gupta sir, who introduced me to the game, and that's where it all began,' he recalls. What started in a small local academy has since evolved into a full-time sporting pursuit, with the All India Pickleball Association (AIPA) now backing him as a sponsored athlete. With a rigorous training schedule of nearly 5-6 hours a day, Avinash has already represented India internationally in multiple tournaments. Reflecting on the difference between international and Indian circuits, he noted, 'India has made great progress in infrastructure. Courts are becoming more accessible, especially with platforms like Picklebay. The level of competition is also rising steadily.' He sees pickleball as one of the most inclusive sports today. 'Pickleball is special because it combines the best of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Anyone from age 8 to 80 can enjoy it. It's cost-effective, easy to pick up, and now with more courts coming up in buildings and communities, it's growing organically.' Avinash also had a message for the next generation, 'Young players should seriously consider pickleball as a professional sport. The growth opportunities are real. If you work hard and perform, you'll get recognition--not just in India, but internationally too.' As Picklebay continues its India Tour, players like Avinash are proving just how impactful this Tournament Series can be in shaping the future of pickleball in the country. (ANI)
