Global Sports Pickleball Season 2 Auction: Global Sports Pickleball held its Season 2 Pro and Challenger League auction in Mumbai, where 10 teams together spent up to ₹6.6 crore on players. Each team had a budget of ₹66 lakhs, with ₹55 lakhs for Pro League players and ₹11 lakhs for Challenger League players.
Top Pro League Signings
The auction saw big names enter the Indian pickleball scene. The most expensive pick was Quang Duong of Vietnam, bought by Mumbai Chhatrapati Warriors for ₹27 lakhs. Megan Fudge of the United States went to Ahmedabad Olympians for ₹25.50 lakhs, while Jack Munro of the United States joined Jaipur Stallions for ₹25 lakhs. Bobbi Oshiro of the United States was signed by Delhi Snipers for ₹24.50 lakhs, and Roos Van Reek of the Netherlands was picked by Hyderabad Vikings for ₹23.50 lakhs.
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Indian Players Shine
Indian players also earned strong deals. The top Indian Pro League pick was Harsh Mehta, bought by Chennai Cool Cats for ₹21 lakhs. Arjun Singh joined Nashik Ninjas for ₹8 lakhs, while Jaipur Stallions signed Aditya Ruhela for ₹5 lakhs.
In the Challenger League, Mihika Yadav stood out, joining Mumbai Chhatrapati Warriors for ₹4.4 lakhs. Aman Patel went to Jaipur Stallions for ₹4 lakhs, and Tejas Gulati was picked by Coimbatore Super Smashers for ₹3.7 lakhs.
Emerging Stars in the Challenger League
The Challenger League also saw international names. Leah Tauber of India was bought by Delhi Snipers for ₹5.2 lakhs. Mihika Yadav again made headlines with her ₹4.4 lakh deal, while Alex Emery of the United States went to Ahmedabad Olympians for ₹4.2 lakhs.
Auction Format and Participation
The Pro League had three player categories, with base prices ranging from ₹2.5 lakhs to ₹8 lakhs. The Challenger League had two categories, starting at ₹50,000 and going up to ₹1.5 lakhs. With international and Indian players in demand, most were sold for much higher prices.
All ten teams—Ahmedabad Olympians, Bengaluru Blazers, Chennai Cool Cats, Coimbatore Super Smashers, Delhi Snipers, Hyderabad Vikings, Jaipur Stallions, Kolkata Kingz, Mumbai Chhatrapati Warriors, and Nashik Ninjas—took part in the auction.
Building the Future of Pickleball
Hemal Jain, Chief Architect at Pickleball Growth, said, “The Season 2 auction was a huge moment for Indian, and in fact Asian pickleball. The intense competition during bidding and the strong valuations really show how much franchises believe in the sport’s future. With both global talent and Indian players joining forces like this, we’re seeing the groundwork laid for pickleball to become a mainstream, professional sport in India.”
Shashank Khaitan, filmmaker and co-founder of Global Sports, added, “This auction really shows how much momentum pickleball has gained in such a short period. While the excitement from the teams and the caliber of players picked demonstrated the fierceness at one level; it also is helping build a sustainable sports ecosystem for all involved. Season 2 is going to highlight the talent and thrill that pickleball offers to fans in India and internationally.”
News in Brief: Global Sports Pickleball Season 2 Auction
Global Sports Pickleball Season 2 auction in Mumbai saw teams spend ₹6.6 crore across Pro and Challenger Leagues. Quang Duong topped the buys at ₹27 lakhs for Mumbai Chhatrapati Warriors. Indian players like Harsh Mehta and Mihika Yadav also secured strong deals. Organizers called it a milestone for Indian pickleball.
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