20 November 2022, Mumbai
Let’s have a ball, Pickleball!
A school friend of mine recently got transferred from Kolkata
to Mumbai. Being a fitness-oriented person, he asked me if there are any good
recreation (sports) facilities nearby. Knowing that he got an apartment in the
heart of Vile Parle East, I was quick to recommend Prabodhankar Thackeray
Krida Sankul (PTKS) – an obvious choice for anyone living in the western suburbs
to relax, unwind, train and play!
While he was thrilled to see the Olympic size
swimming pool, he got curious about a game that a group of boys were playing in
the open area. While the game looked like lawn tennis, but it was not. It appeared
to be an easy yet fitness-oriented game to him. When I told him that it is
called “Pickleball” he was like I was kidding! It was natural, A commoner
may be amused to hear “Pickleball” being name of a sport! Well, that it is
true.
I then took up the opportunity to introduce him to
some trainers of the game, and none other than Shri Arvind Prabhoo (fondly
called as Dada), Chairman of All Indian Pickleball Association. We had a
wonderful free flowing discussion on the game which demonstrated Mr. Prabhoo’s passion
and vision for the game. It was a quite an eye opening for him, and I am sure
many of the readers too will agree.
What, a 40% YoY growth?
Pickleball is hybrid of tennis, badminton,
and ping-pong, is the fastest-growing sport in America. In the five years to
the end of 2019, pickleball participation grew by more than 7%, while
Americans’ overall activity level stayed flat, according to the Sport &
Fitness Industry Association. Although data from 2020 have not yet been
released, the sport has picked up more swing thanks to covid-19. Last March,
when quarantines went into effect and gyms closed, portable pickleball nets
temporarily sold out. Players set up courts, which are half the size of tennis
courts, in driveways.
A 2022 report from the Sports & Fitness Industry
Association called it the fastest growing sport in America, with 4.8 million
players nationwide (a near 40 percent increase from 2020). There are now an
estimated 35,000 courts in the U.S., more than double the number from five
years ago. Pickleball Central, the largest retailer in the U.S. for gear, was
recently purchased by Tom Dundun, owner of the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL,
and LeBron James just bought a stake in a new professional
pickleball team. Super Bowl champion Tom Brady and former world No.1 tennis
player Kim Clijsters also have joined an ownership group that
bought an expansion team for the 2023 Major League Pickleball season.
Tell me
More!
The game got its start back in 1965, in Bainbridge
Island, just a short ferry ride away from Seattle, WA. Three fathers in Washington state faced a dilemma
familiar to beleaguered parents: how to keep their restless children
entertained. They threw together wooden paddles, a badminton net, and a
perforated plastic ball. The sport “pickleball” was born, deriving its
name—according to one legend—from a dog named Pickle, which kept running away
with the ball. That is how the ball got rolling! Pickleball became a game for the whole family. So,
it’s only fitting that it was invented by a family, too.
Pickleball is a fun sport that combines many
elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. It can be played both indoors or
outdoors on a badminton-sized court and a slightly modified tennis net. It is
played with a paddle and a plastic ball with holes. It can be played as doubles
or singles, and can be enjoyed by all ages and skill levels.
A pickleball court is the same size as a double’s
badminton court and measures 20×44 feet. In pickleball, the same court is used
for both singles and doubles play. The net height is 36 inches at the side-lines
and 34 inches in the middle.
Indian Odyssey
The game, which originated in the US way back
in 1965, is played with a squarish paddle and a wiffle ball (perforated plastic
ball with 30-40 holes) and is gaining wide popularity in India now. It seems to
have caught imagination of one and all – 9 0 60 years, Boys and Girls, Men and
Women!
All India Pickleball Association (AIPA) is pioneer
for introducing Pickleball in India, and is responsible for its promotion, development,
and enjoyment in India.
“Every person who learns this sport starts thinking that she or he is Rafael
Nadal or Roger Federer, which makes this sport interesting and addictive,"
Mr. Sunil Valavalkar who is credited with bringing pickleball to India, and the
president of International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) and the founder of
All India Pickleball Association (AIPA). As per him the best part is that even
those who have not played any sport in their lives can just learn the basics of
the game in an hour or two.
Besides being easier to learn than tennis,
pickleball is also slower paced and there is less ground to cover; you could
almost fit four pickleball courts onto one tennis court, and most picklers play
doubles. Presently,
Pickleball is being played across 17 states in India and has over 15,000
registered players, according to the All-India Pickleball Association (AIPA). Many players participate in national and
international tournaments.
Rising Popularity, Huge Potential
Mr. Prabhoo and Mr. Valavalkar spotted the opportunity,
and gave it a desired push with their passion, vision, and resources. Their
persisted efforts and passion, especially in the last two years has taken Pickleball
in India to the next level. It appears to be acquiring critical mass- though,
given the size of our country, the game can gain monumental success –
especially when the early adopters of this game are getting recognition
nationally and internationally, along with financial benefits.
As of now the game has reached tier 1 and some tier
2 cities of the country, however, considering the ease, and almost negligible investment
(for a player), the game has a massive potential to grow – especially in tier 3
and semi urban settings! That
is why Mr. Valavalkar is upbeat on the prospects - "In the USA, it took
nearly 40 years for the sport to reach the critical mass of the society.
Compared to that, perhaps in India we may require less time to reach up to 2
lakh people”.
Taking India to the World-stage
Yes, it is Happening in India (Mumbai) for the 1st time in the game's
history! The USD 50,000 event will see 425+ players giving their
everything to leave a mark at the world stage! Bainbridge Cup 2022 will
be held at National Sports Club of India (NSCI), Worli, Mumbai – a premium
sports complex in Maharashtra, during 30th Nov and 4th December 2022.
Try it, Y'll Love it!
Mr. Prabhoo who is also key initiator of Amateur Pickleball
Federation of India (APFI), along with Mr. Valavalkar, and AIPA committed to
take the sport to hinterland and grow it to make more competitive. The duo is adopting
innovative approaches to develop the game at grass root level – Pickleball Development
Officer being one of them.
End-Game : Getting Ready for the future
As of now Pickleball is primarily a US game. For the sport to gain acceptance in other countries, popularity must increase. Nevertheless, if the game can maintain its current popularity and trajectory, and desired steps are taken by IFP, one may be able to see it in Olympics – may be in the next decade.
As Indian athletes begin to compete well with the best in business, it coincides with the excellent infrastructure that has come up in the recent past. Whether it is cricket or Olympic sports, the country is making rapid progress in building cutting-edge facilities that can be termed world class. Some of these are in public sector while the others perhaps better, quality-wise are private undertakings.
It is just a matter of time that Pickleball will grab the attention of commoners, but for those who are already in sports, this is their chance to shine – adopt it fast, train, play and get professional. Catch the bus when it is not very crowded, get the first mover advantage!
Having witnessed the zeal and organisational capability of the duo, one is sure that Bainbridge Cup 2022 will be a massive hit! This mega event will be a phillip to sports culture in Mumbai, and more such events will help Mumbai to rise again on the sporting circuit (other than cricket). Eventually it would also give an opportunity to Mumbai players to make and impact at world stage! Reclaim that Sporting Glory, Mumbai
Sports lovers can drop in at the venue (NSCI, Worli, 30 Nov-4 Dec 22) to witness the action and experience the thrill. Don't mind if not possible, do drive in to PTKS, Vile Parle on any evening and witness the action.
Do not waste it all, have a ball, play Pickleball!
- Dhananjay M. Deshmukh, Mumbai
(Author is an independent market research and business consulting professional.
Views are personal. Data presented is collected via online secondary research).
Comments
Post a Comment