PWR 1000 Pickleball Chennai Tournament: India’s first PWR 1000 pickleball tournament brought the nation’s top players to Chennai on the coast, showcasing the sport’s rapid growth. Organized by the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) and the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF), the event featured elite players across men’s, women’s, and mixed categories, drawing more than 100 participants.
Top Players Compete by the Sea
Suryaveer Singh, President of the Indian Pickleball Association, highlighted the high-level nature of the event. “This is a very high-level event wherein we have the top players coming from all over India,” Singh said. “We have more than 100 players participating in different categories. The entries were limited this time because the idea was to have only the top players taking part.”
Singh noted the scenic location near the beach and the lively atmosphere, including music, made the competition unique. He also emphasized the rapid growth of pickleball in southern India, with cities like Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore, and Thiruvananthapuram seeing a surge in players.
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Pickleball for All Ages
Singh encouraged people of all ages to try the sport. “Pickleball is a great sport, both for fun as well as for your health. It was recently voted as the healthiest sport for anybody. Come out and play — it’s a sport for the family. Everyone can play this sport.”
He shared examples of wide participation, noting that players as young as five and as old as 77 have competed. “Every sport has injuries, but yes, this is a sport that anyone can play from 7 to 70. In Guwahati, I saw a 77-year-old competing. And in Chennai’s last PWR 100, a five-year-old took part. At our academy in Ahmedabad, seven- and eight-year-olds are already playing.”
A Turning Point for Indian Pickleball
Manish Rao of the Global Pickleball Federation called the event a revolution. “This is the first PWR 1000 happening in India, and what this tournament has done is unique. It’s a knockout event, you are playing the best teams right from the first round. Normally you have round-robins and leagues, but this is a revolution. The level of the game is next level out there.”
Rao highlighted the sport’s accessibility, saying it is easy to start but challenging to master, which attracts younger players. He noted the post-COVID boom in cities like Coimbatore and predicted pickleball’s long-term growth in India. “Pickleball is here to stay because it can be played by all age groups — from 8 to 80.”
A Growing Sport with National Appeal
The tournament emphasized pickleball’s social and health benefits, making it appealing for families. Rao added, “If you are not aware of Pickleball, then you are definitely missing out on something in life. It’s a combination of badminton, tennis and table tennis. Within 5–10 minutes on court, you will be hitting the ball across the net. That’s the advantage. It’s social, it’s fun, it’s easy on the body, and it’s here to stay.”
As the waves crash along Chennai’s shoreline, the PWR 1000 showcased India’s top talent and confirmed that pickleball is firmly establishing itself as a growing, inclusive sport in the country.
News in Brief: PWR 1000 Pickleball Chennai Tournament
India’s first PWR 1000 pickleball tournament in Chennai featured over 100 top players across men’s, women’s, and mixed categories. Organized by the Indian Pickleball Association and Global Pickleball Federation, the event highlighted the sport’s rapid growth, family-friendly appeal, and accessibility, attracting players aged five to 77 while promoting nationwide interest.