Hyderabad Open 2025: A Grand Kickoff for the World Pickleball League

The Hyderabad Open 2025 has successfully launched the World Pickleball League On Tour, attracting over 250 players and featuring a ₹15 lakh prize pool. With competitive categories for all ages, the event showcased top talent, including Kuldip Mahajan and Anuja Maheshwari. The excitement continues as the WPBL heads to Delhi for the next tournament. Discover more about this thrilling event and its impact on the pickleball community.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 27, 2025, 02:04 IST

Hyderabad Open 2025 Concludes Successfully

The inaugural Hyderabad Open 2025, part of the World Pickleball League (WPBL) On Tour, wrapped up in style over the weekend in Hyderabad. This event, organized in collaboration with the Hyderabad Superstars franchise, marked an exciting beginning to a six-city tour. Over 250 players participated in this thrilling three-day event, which featured a substantial prize pool of ₹15 lakhs.

With 60 competitive categories spanning various age groups from under-18 to over-50, the Hyderabad Open ensured a diverse range of matches. The event utilized DUPR-based draws to promote fair competition and exhilarating gameplay. Notable players from WPBL Season 1, including Kuldip Mahajan from the Hyderabad Superstars, highlighted the professional categories.

Kuldip Mahajan secured the title in the Pro Men’s Singles, while Anuja Maheshwari triumphed in the Pro Women’s Singles. Other champions included Vanshik Kapadia (Pro Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles), Vrushali Thakare (Pro Women’s and Mixed Doubles), Isha Lakhani (Pro Women’s Doubles), and Tejas Mahajan (Pro Men’s Doubles), adding to the event's excitement.

Gaurav Natekar, the Founder and CEO of WPBL, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “After successfully hosting several events, we proudly held our first flagship franchise tournament for the WPBL ‘On Tour’ in Hyderabad with our franchise partners, the Hyderabad Superstars. Our vision is to create significant value for our franchises, partners, players, and stakeholders. We plan to host over 50 events under the WPBL ‘On Tour’ umbrella, culminating in Season 2 in Mumbai. Following Hyderabad, our upcoming tournament in New Delhi is set to be an even grander showcase of what WPBL represents.”

Co-owners of Hyderabad Superstars, Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani, shared their excitement, saying, “We are thrilled to see the pickleball community in Hyderabad come together for the Hyderabad Open. This marks a positive step towards ensuring that the next edition will attract over 500 players. We are eager to focus on the upcoming World Pickleball League Season 2 and aim to surpass our previous achievements.”

Srinath Chitturi, Co-Owner of Hyderabad Superstars (KLO Sports), added, “Our goal in bringing pickleball to Hyderabad was the foundation of our partnership with the World Pickleball League. We are grateful for the opportunity to bring the Hyderabad Superstars to life. The overwhelming support from the Hyderabad community has been incredible, and the success of the Hyderabad Open reflects the dedication of both players and the pickleball community.”

Having reached the semi-finals in Season 1 of WPBL, the Hyderabad Superstars, through the inaugural Hyderabad Open 2025, have established a framework for ongoing engagement with fans and players in the city, marking a unique initiative beyond traditional tournament formats.

With Hyderabad setting a high standard, the WPBL On Tour is now heading to the north for the eagerly awaited Delhi Open, scheduled to take place in the national capital from August 28 to 31, 2025.