PWR DUPR India League Debuts in Mumbai: The PWR DUPR India League and Tour was officially launched in Mumbai with a grand event at ITC Grand Central. Hosted on December 14, the event was attended by global sports icons, including tennis legend Andre Agassi, India’s top doubles player Rohan Bopanna, and cricket great Jonty Rhodes. Times Group MD Vineet Jain expressed his ambition to make pickleball a mainstream sport in India, marking a milestone for this fast-growing sport.
“Good afternoon. It is a pleasure to stand before you today, as we mark a significant milestone in the growth of pickleball in India with the launch of the PWR DUPR India League and Tour.” – (Vineet Jain)
Grand Launch Event with Sports Legends
The launch of the PWR DUPR India League celebrated the growing popularity of pickleball in India. Andre Agassi, a passionate pickleball player and investor, graced the event, alongside Rohan Bopanna and Jonty Rhodes. The event also received virtual support from Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, who delivered a recorded message encouraging the development of the sport.
“I am especially thankful to our Honourable Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, for his kind words of support and encouragement to this new-age sport. He could not be here in person but was kind enough to record a speech for the benefit of the Pickleball community in India and abroad.” – (Vineet Jain)
He thanked the international and Indian sports personalities who joined the launch and praised the collaborative effort to boost the sport’s growth.
“We are excited to have tennis legend and pickleball enthusiast, investor and player, Andre Agassi at the launch of this league. We are equally excited to have former world number one doubles tennis player- India’s very own Rohan Bopanna, with us today.” – (Vineet Jain)
Pickleball in India: Rapid Growth and Future Plans
Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in India, and the Times Group has emerged as a key supporter. Jain highlighted the massive turnout of 800+ players and a large audience at the PWR India Masters event in Delhi this October.
“India is one of the fastest-growing markets for pickleball. We were pleasantly surprised to see 800+ player entries and a large audience at the recently held PWR India Masters event in Delhi in October. This further confirmed our belief that Pickleball in India is set to grow exponentially. Player participation, infrastructure, and facilities in pickleball are seeing growth not only in metros –but also in smaller cities.” – (Vineet Jain)
He also shared plans for the National Pickleball Championship to be held at Bennett University, which now boasts ten dedicated pickleball courts.
We, along with the Indian Pickleball Association, plan to host the National Pickleball Championship from 23rd to 26th January 2025 at our Times Group’s Bennett University –which is proud to have 10 pickleball courts.” – (Vineet Jain)
“We are clear that we want to make pickleball a very major mainstream sport in India and create a robust ecosystem benefitting players, fans, team owners, investors and infrastructure providers.” – (Vineet Jain)
Global and National Collaboration
The PWR DUPR India League is supported by the Indian Pickleball Association, the Asian Pickleball Association, and the Global Pickleball Federation. These partnerships lend credibility to the league, making it an internationally recognized platform.
“PWR India League is supported by the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA), the Asian Pickleball Association (APA), and the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF), all of which are credible governing bodies with international recognition.” – (Vineet Jain)
“Accordingly, we have signed up with the best global and Indian talent to play in our League. This will make it more competitive, improve the standard of the game in India, drive fan engagement and bring newer audiences and players to the sport.” – (Vineet Jain)
Significance and the Road Ahead
The launch of the PWR DUPR India League marks a new chapter for pickleball in India. With strategic investments, innovative platforms, and a growing player base, the sport is poised for exponential growth. Jain called upon fans, players, and stakeholders to contribute to making pickleball a household name in India.
“As we begin on this journey together, I encourage fans, players, and stakeholders to join this exciting ride and make pickleball a household name in India – while raising the level of the sport very significantly.” – (Vineet Jain)
With such a robust vision, the future of pickleball in India looks brighter than ever.
“I would like to thank Andre and Rohan for their presence here today and look forward to seeing them play a fun and exciting match to launch the PWR DUPR India League. I would also like to thank Jonty Rhodes, for being part of this event.” – (Vineet Jain)
News in Brief: PWR DUPR India League Debuts in Mumbai
The PWR DUPR India League was launched in Mumbai with global sports icons like Andre Agassi, Rohan Bopanna, and Jonty Rhodes. Times Group MD Vineet Jain announced major plans to promote pickleball in India, including a National Championship and digital platform, aiming to make it a mainstream sport with global recognition.
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