Pickleball Rise in Delhi: Delhi is quickly becoming a major center for pickleball in India, with industry experts predicting the sport’s rapid rise across the country. The capital city is joining Mumbai and Ahmedabad in embracing pickleball, and many believe it is on track to become as popular as cricket in the coming years.
The Rapid Growth of Pickleball in Delhi
Pickleball, a fast-growing sport that blends elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, has seen a surge in popularity across India. While Mumbai has long been the epicenter of pickleball’s rise, Delhi is catching up fast.
Suhail Narain, the founder of Hudle, a platform connecting players with sports facilities, reports that over 250 pickleball courts have already been set up in Delhi NCR. With 30 to 40 new courts being added every month, the city is poised to surpass other regions in player participation and court availability soon.
“Today, we have more than 250 pickleball courts just in Delhi NCR. We are adding 30 to 40 new courts a month – that is more than one new court every day.” – (Suhail Narain)
Why Pickleball is Thriving in Delhi
The popularity of pickleball in Delhi is driven by its accessibility and broad appeal. Unlike more specialized sports, pickleball is easy for people of all ages to pick up, making it especially popular among young working professionals, families, and even older adults. Narain notes that the sport appeals to a wide age range, from 20-year-olds to those in their 60s, creating an inclusive community of players.
“The beauty of pickleball is that it breaks age barriers. From 20-year-olds to 60-year-olds, players from all walks of life are enjoying the game together. In sports like badminton, differences in skills and fitness often make it difficult for people of different ages to play together.” – (Suhail)
In fact, some schools have even converted basketball courts into pickleball courts, reflecting the sport’s growing presence in everyday spaces.
“Pickleball acts as a great leveller. While it has become a popular trend among young working professionals between 20 and 30 years old, we are also seeing a strong and regular participation from players in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. For many older people, it is even replacing their morning walk routines.” – (Suhail)
Pickleball vs. Padel: Which is Gaining Ground?
While pickleball leads in terms of player numbers and courts, padel, a similar but more technical sport, is also rising in popularity, particularly in Delhi. Padel requires more investment to set up courts, making it less widespread than pickleball. However, its smaller number of courts means those facilities are often more heavily used.
“Pickleball is way ahead of padel when it comes to player base and the number of courts. Padel is also slightly technical sport and needs more investment than pickleball.” – (Suhail)
“However, since padel courts are fewer in number and require a higher investment to set up, they often see better occupancy rates. Typically, for every 10 pickleball courts, there are about 2 padel courts. While the average pickleball player plays around five times a month, padel players average slightly higher at about seven games a month. That is what our data tells us. Hardcore pickleball players, however, take it up a notch, playing 15-16 games monthly.” – (Suhail)
Padel is steadily growing in India, with an estimated 1,000 courts expected by 2028. For pickleball, Narain predicts that by 2028, India could have as many as 2,500 pickleball courts, with a significant share in Delhi NCR and Mumbai.
“By the year 2028, there could be as many as 1,000 Padel courts in India. For Pickleball, we estimate a total of 150 commercial Pickelball courts in Mumbai, and about the same in Delhi NCR. By the year 2028, there could be as many as 2,500 Pickleball courts in India.” – (Anant Jangwal, Founder and CEO of Play Padel)
The Economic Impact of Pickleball
The rise of pickleball is also creating a new market for sports facilities. In Delhi, court rental prices range from Rs 700 to Rs 1,500 per hour, depending on the venue, showing the growing demand for pickleball spaces.
“Delhi is one of the most expensive markets. Today, we charge between Rs 700 to Rs 1,200 per hour to rent out a pickleball court, while the charge for premium venues can go up to Rs 1,500. Padel, requiring larger, costlier courts, charges anywhere between Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 per hour.” – (Suhail)
Padel, due to its larger courts and higher setup costs, is priced higher at Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 per hour. Despite this, both sports are experiencing strong growth, especially among youth and corporate groups.
“Padel and Pickleball are experiencing remarkable 4x growth in the Delhi NCR region fuelled by strong community engagement, the demand from youth, corporate groups, and families is driving this growth.” said Alpesh Patel, City Leader at Decathlon Sports India.
Is Pickleball Just a Fad?
Despite concerns that pickleball might be a passing trend, experts are confident in its long-term potential. Narain believes that pickleball will become as ingrained in Indian culture as cricket, with courts found in every neighborhood across the country.
“We are observing it closely. How, customer number is going up every month. If fact, pickleball will become something like cricket that we see people kids playing on the roads and colony while growing up. Pickleball will actually become like that. There will be courts in every nook and corner of the country. And in a few years, it will become part of our life.” – (Suhail)
Future of Pickleball in India
As pickleball continues to grow in Delhi and other Indian cities, the sport is creating a new wave of sports enthusiasts and opportunities. It’s not just about fitness but also about community and accessibility. With experts projecting rapid growth, pickleball could soon become a mainstream sport, cementing its place in India’s sporting landscape.
News in Brief: Pickleball Rise in Delhi
Delhi is emerging as a major hub for pickleball in India, with more than 250 courts in the NCR region. Industry experts predict the sport will soon surpass cricket in popularity, creating a new market for sports facilities. Pickleball’s broad appeal and ease of access are driving its rapid rise in the capital.
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