Exciting New Pathway for Amateur Pickleball Players in India

The Pickleball Now Grand Prix has partnered with the Indian Pickleball League to provide amateur players a chance to enter the professional league through a series of tournaments. Kicking off in Mumbai, this initiative aims to bridge the gap between amateur and professional pickleball, offering significant prizes and ranking points. With events scheduled across multiple cities, players will have the opportunity to showcase their skills and potentially secure a spot in the IPBL Player Auction. This exciting development highlights the growing popularity of pickleball in India and the abundance of talent in the sport.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 21, 2026, 16:15 IST

Introduction to the Pickleball Now Grand Prix

The Pickleball Now Grand Prix has formed a collaboration with the Indian Pickleball League (IPBL) to create opportunities for amateur players to participate in the IPBL Player Auction. This series of pickleball events has received PWR 700 sanction from the Indian Pickleball Association, which is recognized by the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs. The inaugural event will kick off in Mumbai on July 23.

On July 17, it was announced that the Grand Prix tour will span 13 cities over the upcoming months. Players participating in the Pickleball Now Grand Prix will have the chance to enter the IPBL Player Auction, paving the way for them to compete in India's top professional pickleball league. As these events are classified as PWR 700 tournaments, they will provide essential ranking points and a prize pool of up to Rs 50 lakh.

Following the Mumbai event, subsequent tournaments will take place in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Gurugram, Chennai, and Lucknow (hosted in Noida) from August to September. This tournament aims to strengthen the talent pipeline from amateur levels to professional sports. The management of IPBL teams will closely observe the series, providing them with a chance to scout talent in real-time.

During the Mumbai leg, representatives from the Mumbai Smashers, who won the first edition of the IPBL, will be present to evaluate players. Mr. Nitish Mittersain, the Founder of Nazara Technologies, which owns Mumbai Smashers, expressed enthusiasm about the growth of pickleball in India, stating, "The sport is expanding rapidly, and there is a wealth of talent. We are excited to partner with the Pickleball Now Grand Prix and see both seasoned and new players compete for this prestigious title. It also allows us to identify potential prospects for our team. I wish all participants the best of luck."

The Mumbai edition will feature a round-robin format across various categories, including Men's Doubles (19+) – Advanced & Intermediate; Women's Doubles (19+) – Advanced & Intermediate; Mixed Doubles (19+) – Advanced & Intermediate; Gender Neutral Doubles (19+) – Advanced & Intermediate; and Men's Singles (19+) – Advanced & Intermediate. Registrations for the Pickleball Now Grand Prix – Mumbai Edition are currently open.