Pranav Kohli Highlights Pickleball’s Appeal: Pickleball is rapidly gaining popularity, largely because it is easy to learn and inclusive. Many people have taken up the sport since the pandemic, as it promotes socializing and a healthy lifestyle. Pranav Kohli, CEO and Founder of PWR, discussed these trends at the ET Now Global Business Summit 2025.
Inclusivity at Its Core
Kohli emphasized that pickleball is welcoming to players of all backgrounds.
“One of the key things about pickleball is that it transcends gender, socio-economic backgrounds, body type, and age. So anybody can play pickleball.” – (Kohli)
He shared his own journey, mentioning that he started pickleball at 186 kgs and now weighs 160 kgs. He believes his size limits participation in other sports.
“So if you look at me, I’m today 160 kgs. When I started pickleball, I was 186. So somebody of my body type could get on a court, which, again, I can’t do with any other sport.” – (Kohli)
"One of the key aspects of Pickleball is its inclusivity, it transcends gender, socio-economic background, body type, and age. Anyone can play Pickleball": Pranav Kohli (CEO and Founder of PWR) at ET Now Global Business Summit 2025. pic.twitter.com/nrBYaA84oy
— Pickleball Now (@Pickleballnowin) February 17, 2025
Accessibility and Low Costs
The accessibility of pickleball is another reason for its growth.
“Anybody can play the sport. It’s easy, you know, hand-eye coordination allows for that movement. And then also it’s less intimidating for women.” – (Kohli)
This sport allows families to play together, as he noted,
“It’s one of those sports where men and women can play together. So, practically, my daughter, my wife, my father, and I can all be on a court and enjoy a competitive game of pickleball. So it’s very inclusive.” – (Kohli)
He also pointed out the low cost of building pickleball courts compared to tennis courts.
“Accessibility is a key factor. The cost of infrastructure is, you know, it’s not very high, it’s fractional. In one tennis court, for example, you can fit four pickleball courts from a sizing perspective. And to create it is also not expensive.” – (Kohli)
Changing Consumer Behavior
Kohli discussed how changing consumer behavior has influenced the sport’s popularity.
“So I think all of these factors collectively are, you know, fuelling the growth, but also consumer behaviour across the globe is changing as well, specifically when it comes to sports. So when it comes to sports, a lot of participation is happening in new age sports.” – (Kohli)
The COVID-19 pandemic also played a role in the rise of pickleball.
“And what has happened is across the globe, everybody is, you know, during COVID, look for a new hobby category. And that’s why, you know, Peloton grew from a cycling perspective. Nobody knew indoor cycling could be so big, right?” – (Kohli)
He compared this to the success of Peloton and noted that pickleball’s inclusive nature attracted many new players.
“And pickleball is one of those sports which caught the fancy of a lot of people because of its inclusive nature. And that’s how the sport has grown.” – (Kohli)
The growing interest in pickleball reflects a shift towards more inclusive and accessible sports. This trend suggests that pickleball will continue to thrive as people seek new ways to engage in physical activity and connect with others.
News in Brief: Pranav Kohli Highlights Pickleball’s Appeal
Pickleball is becoming increasingly popular due to its inclusivity and accessibility. Pranav Kohli, CEO of PWR, highlighted its appeal at the ET Now Global Business Summit 2025.
The sport attracts players of all backgrounds, encouraging family participation and making it easier to build courts at lower costs.
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