International Players Join APP Tour Following Indian Pickleball League Success
Global Expansion of Pickleball
The global popularity of pickleball is on the rise, as evidenced by the recent signings of several international athletes by the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) Tour. These players participated in the inaugural Indian Pickleball League (IPBL) 2025, with the APP confirming these new contracts on March 3. The APP Tour plays a crucial role in the professional pickleball landscape, offering year-round tournaments for both amateurs and professionals. Success on this circuit often leads to opportunities on the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour, which is recognized as the pinnacle of the sport in the United States.
Among the newly signed players are Megan Fudge, Emilia Schmidt, Roos van Reek, Shelby Bates, and Jack Munro, all of whom showcased their skills at the IPBL held at the K. D. Jadhav Indoor Hall in December 2025. Many of these athletes have remained active in international competitions, including the APP Tour’s Kuala Lumpur Open in February, where they continued to excel.
Megan Fudge
Megan Fudge stood out as a key player during the Indian Pickleball League, leading the Hyderabad Royals to the finals and earning the title of Most Valuable Player, despite the team finishing as runners-up to the Mumbai Smashers. Prior to her time in India, Fudge had impressive performances at the Pickleball D-Joy Vietnam Masters and maintained her form at the Kuala Lumpur Open, where she won a gold medal in women’s doubles and a silver in mixed doubles with her husband, Ryler DeHeart.
Emilia Schmidt
Emilia Schmidt, Australia’s leading pickleball player, has also made her mark with the APP signing. Known for her agility and aggressive playstyle, Schmidt represented the Capital Warriors Gurgaon at the IPBL. Although her team did not advance to the knockout rounds, her individual performances garnered attention. She later won the singles title at the APP Next event in Santiago and participated in the Australian Open in February.
Roos van Reek
Roos van Reek from the Netherlands had a strong showing at the IPBL while playing for the Chennai Super Warriors, dominating the singles category until her defeat by Megan Fudge in the knockout stage. She carried her momentum into the international circuit, earning two bronze medals at the APP Tour Malaysia event in both mixed doubles and women’s doubles.
Shelby Bates
American player Shelby Bates also secured a contract with the APP Tour after representing the Lucknow Leopards in the IPBL, where her team reached the knockout stage. Bates rebounded with a strong performance at the Kuala Lumpur Open, winning a bronze medal and competing in mixed doubles, where she was eliminated in the quarter-finals.
Jack Munro
Jack Munro, a rising star from Austin, Texas, has been making waves on the international pickleball scene. He led the Capital Warriors Gurgaon during the IPBL and had previously impressed at the Pickleball D-Joy Vietnam Masters, where he won two gold medals. Munro continued his success at the Kuala Lumpur Open, securing gold in men’s doubles and bronze in mixed doubles.
Munro also excelled at the APP Japan event in March, winning gold in both the men’s doubles and mixed doubles categories. Other players who joined the APP Tour include Sofia Sewing, Ryler DeHeart, Casey Diamond, Allison Harris, Quang Duong, and India’s Harsh Mehta, showcasing the expanding international talent pool in professional pickleball.