Hyderabad Pickleball League Schedule and Venues: The city of Hyderabad will launch its first Hyderabad Pickleball League (HPL) on October 10, running until November 28. The event will feature eight franchise teams competing in a round-robin format, with a total prize pool of Rs 12 lakh.
The tournament will include an auction where each team can buy nine players within a budget of Rs 3 lakh. Base prices for players will range from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000, depending on their category.
League Structure and Teams
Each franchise will have 10 players, including one icon player, two women, and one player above the age of 35. Matches will be played every Friday across eight different venues, with each team hosting one full league day.
The top four teams will move on to the playoff stage, which includes qualifiers, an eliminator, and a final, similar to the format used in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Player Auction Details
The last date for players to register for the auction is August 18, and the live auction will take place on August 20. All eight team owners will bid for players from the registered pool in a professionally managed event.
“Each team will have a budget of 3 lakh to acquire nine players. The base prices will range from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000, determined by their assigned category (A, B, C, or D),” according to a media release.
Prize Money and Awards
The winner of the league will receive Rs 6 lakh, while the runner-up will earn Rs 3 lakh. The team finishing third will get Rs 1.20 lakh. Individual awards include Rs 80,000 for the most valuable player and Rs 50,000 each for the best male and best female players.
Goal of the League
“The whole idea of the HPL, organized by Centrecourt Sports & Entertainment, is to raise the level of competition, showcase the city’s top players in a professional, structured format, and pay the players to play with structured teams and coaching,” the release stated.
Organizers also emphasized efforts to engage fans and sponsors. “There are also efforts to build passionate fan bases through venues, live streaming, and social media stories, and to engage sponsors and businesses with meaningful sports partnerships,” it was informed.
Significance
The Hyderabad Pickleball League is expected to increase the sport’s visibility in the city while giving players both recognition and financial rewards. With live auctions, structured teams, and professional management, the event aims to bring pickleball closer to mainstream sports in India.
News in Brief: Hyderabad Pickleball League Schedule and Venues
The Hyderabad Pickleball League starts October 10 with eight teams. A player auction will decide squads. The prize pool is Rs 12 lakh, with Rs 6 lakh for the winner. Matches run weekly until November 28.
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