Pickleball Fever Grips Chennai: Pickleball is really taking off in Chennai and becoming a favorite sport for people of all ages! This fun game mixes elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis, creating an exciting experience with paddles and lighter balls. You can play it indoors and outdoors, making it great for everyone! Even though pickleball has been around for a few years, its popularity is growing fast. Shirisha Badri from Dugout, an adventure sports arena, says they’re getting requests to open as early as 6 a.m., even though they start at 10:30 a.m. It’s easy to learn, which attracts many players!
“After badminton or tennis, there weren’t many racquet sports left to explore. Which is why pickleball has become such a sensation in Chennai. It is relatively easy to pick up. We have been asked to open as early as 6 a.m., though we start at 10.30 a.m. That’s how popular it is getting.” – (Shirisha Badri)
Expansion Across Tamil Nadu
Pickleball fever isn’t limited to Chennai. According to K. Mohit Kumar, general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Pickleball Association, new courts up across the state.
“There are three pickleball courts in Coimbatore and two in Salem.”-(K. Mohit Kumar)
Kumar himself got hooked on the sport in 2019 while playing with a friend in his garage, and he quickly saw its potential to spread.
“That day, I realised that pickleball had the potential to expand throughout Chennai and the other cities.”-(K. Mohit Kumar)
Ranjit, who runs Picklers Arena in Chennai, was inspired by his experience in the U.S., where he saw tennis courts being converted into pickleball courts. However, instead of converting existing courts, he opted to build three new indoor pickleball courts at Iyyappanthangal, featuring a synthetic surface laid over bitumen. His vision was clear create a dedicated space for Chennai’s growing pickleball community.
A Game for All Ages
One of the sport’s biggest draws is its universal appeal. It’s not just a game for the young—pickleball is attracting older players as well. Ranjit notes that many of the regulars at his courts are in their 50s and 60s, some of whom discovered pickleball while visiting their children in the U.S.
“They realised how easy it was to pick up,” he says. “Now, slowly but surely, people of all ages are joining the game.”-(K. Mohit Kumar)
Yohan, a teenager and tennis enthusiast, recently tried pickleball and found it surprisingly fun.
“It is especially fun to play with teams and I enjoyed it even when it was only my first match because the sport is not as stringent in rules as other sports. The older people also seem to like it because they can have their daily exercise and keep fit without having to exert themselves.”-(Yohan)
For older players, the sport offers a way to stay fit without overexerting themselves, blending fun with fitness.
Community and Growth
While pickleball has roots as a family game in the U.S., it’s now becoming a serious sport in India.
“The COVID-19 pandemic was a wake-up call for many to prioritise their health, and that’s also when the pickleball conversations took off in some cities in India.”-(K. Mohit Kumar)
In Chennai alone, over 500 players are now involved with the Tamil Nadu Pickleball Association. It’s a community-driven sport, with regular tournaments and plenty of social media buzz helping it gain traction.
Kumar believes pickleball’s growth is just getting started. “This sport is for all,” he says, adding that pickleball isn’t just a fleeting trend—it’s a sport that’s here to stay.
News in Brief: Pickleball Fever Grips Chennai
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