Jammu and Kashmir on the Global Pickleball Map: Pickleball, the world’s fastest-growing sport, has carved out a niche in the scenic valleys of Jammu and Kashmir, thanks to WHS Sports Hub in Srinagar. By introducing Jammu and Kashmir’s first dedicated pickleball courts and launching the Pickleball Sunday League, the hub is making significant strides to promote the sport. This initiative reflects their commitment to fostering innovative sports opportunities for Kashmir’s youth while creating a vibrant, inclusive pickleball community.
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The Pickleball Sunday League: A Strategic Move
The Pickleball Sunday League is central to WHS Sports Hub’s efforts to popularize the sport. Viraj Singh, co-founder of WHS Sports Hub, shared insights into their journey.
“We’ve been in the education sector for over 60 years and running one of the oldest schools in J&K (Woodlands House School). Being engaged with the youth for so long, we decided that we wanted to pay back to society, and hence, we set up the first-ever pay-and-play facility for the youth of Kashmir, which was initially a program for the school kids. So, we introduced cricket and football turf first, and then we added pickleball as a sport because it is one of the fastest-growing sports. At this point, it’s a great market to start in a place like J&K.” – (Viraj Singh)
This vision inspired the creation of Kashmir’s first pay-and-play sports facility, starting with cricket and football turf and later adding pickleball as a growing attraction. Singh emphasized that the League’s focus is on community-building.
“So, that’s one of the main reasons we started a Sunday League where we can get all kinds of people, and they can, you know, interact and set up their pairs, whether it’s mixed doubles or even singles. The idea was to build a community and, you know, make it an event which is not going to be chargeable as the initial phase was to just, you know, encourage people across the city to come and play the sport. Most importantly, grow a community across J&K.” – (Viraj Singh)
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A Five-Year Vision for Pickleball
In the next five years, WHS Sports Hub aims to establish pickleball as a cornerstone of Jammu and Kashmir’s sports culture. Their plan includes introducing more courts, training coaches, and hosting workshops. These efforts are intended to inspire a new generation of players and create a robust pickleball ecosystem.
“We would be doing multiple events when it comes to pickleball. We started as a Sunday League. Now, going forward, we are going to be working with different identities across the country and setting up workshops as well. We also want to create national-level events and, hopefully, with time, do international events as well and build the entire ecosystem across J&K by setting up more pickleball courts and creating a full community around pickleball.” – (Viraj Singh)
He envisions putting Jammu and Kashmir on the global pickleball map, believing the region’s unique appeal could elevate its profile in the sport.
“Yes. We want to get J&K on the map of pickleball in the country and across the world because if you notice anything when it comes to this part of the country, it’s always big news.” – (Viraj Singh)
Support and Expansion Across the Region
Singh expressed hope for support from government and sports organizations to further their mission. He detailed plans to expand pickleball infrastructure in smaller districts and develop coaching ecosystems equipped with top-notch facilities and equipment.
“We want to, you know, get the support of the government and make this into a national level sport and do interstate tournaments and get people from the state to sort of understand and take themselves forward. We also want to build and set up courts across J&K, especially in smaller districts, set up an ecosystem of coaches, and deliver them with the best equipment and facilities. And with time, I guess that’s going to give the answer to the country on a place like J&K has done a lot in order to build the sport of pickleball.” – (Viraj Singh)
News in Brief: Jammu and Kashmir on the Global Pickleball Map
The WHS Sports Hub in Srinagar is spearheading pickleball’s growth in Jammu and Kashmir by launching the region’s first dedicated courts and the Pickleball Sunday League. Co-founder Viraj Singh aims to build a community-driven ecosystem, expand infrastructure, and host national and international events. The initiative seeks to inspire youth, foster inclusivity, and put Jammu and Kashmir on the global pickleball map with government and sports organization support.
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