In a landmark moment for pickleball in India, the racquet sport has been recognised and added to the government's 'Saansad Khel Spardha' initiative. The Uttar Pradesh Open Pickleball Championship will be the first tournament to be held under the 'Saansad Khel Spardha', which was launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government in 2019 to inculcate a culture of sports among youth.
The UP Open Pickleball Championship will be inaugurated by Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Anurag Thakur and Gautam Budh Nagar MP Mahesh Sharma on April 21. The four-day event will be played at Uttar Pradesh's Noida stadium and see players competing across 30 categories.
The top two performers will be provided an all expenses paid trip to Telford, United Kingdom, to play in the English Open.
Aman Grover, general secretary, Pickleball Sports Association, Uttar Pradesh (UPSPA), which is hosting the tournament, said the introduction of pickleball into 'Saansad Khel Spardha 2023' is a stepping stone to buidling this game for Olympics.
"The support from the government has given us hope that we will be able to give shape to this game and take it to a much bigger level, where all homes in Uttar Pradesh will see a pickleball player," Grover told ABP Live.
Under the 'Saansad Khel Spardha' initiative, every Member of Parliament has been asked to organise sports festivals so that the culture of sports is encouraged among the youths and their sporting talents are groomed and channelised.
In February, while inaugurating the Gorakhpur Saanasad Khel Mahakumbh, PM Modi stressed the importance of sports competitions at the local level to promote talent and said that competitions at the regional level not only enhance local talent but also boost the morale of the players of the entire region.
What Is Pickleball?
Pickleball, a combination of badminton, tennis and table tennis (TT), is making rapid strides in India and is played across 18 states. There are over 15,000 registered 'picklers' with the All India Pickleball Association (AIPA).
Played with a paddle and a wiffle ball (perforated plastic ball with 2-40 holes) in a court having dimensions similar to a badminton court, pickleball is a popular sport in the United States and originated way back in 1965.
Similar to other racquet sports, the goal in pickleball is to win a point after rallying against your opponent. However, a team scores points only while serving.