Harsh Sharma, Founder, Athletiq.
For the last few decades, sports like Cricket, Badminton, Football and in some way, Kabbaddi, have been dominating the Indian sports ecosystem and sports enthusiasts across the country. But the recent arrival of Pickleball and its unprecedented growth has placed this new sport as a formidable contender to these legacy sports. Across India's metros and Tier-2 cities, pickleball courts are filling up at sunrise and late into the night. The question being increasingly asked across India's sporting and investment ecosystem is no longer "What is pickleball?" but rather: "Could pickleball become India's next big sports revolution?"
However, every fast-growing sport eventually reaches a critical stage where casual participation alone is not enough. Long-term growth depends on structure, governance, athlete development, coaching systems, tournaments, rankings, and high-performance ecosystems. That is precisely where the National Sports Federations and brands like Athletiq are stepping in to shape the future of the sport.
As the Official Performance Partner of the IPA (National Sports Federation of Pickleball in India), Athletiq is positioning itself not merely as an equipment brand, but as a long-term ecosystem builder for Indian pickleball.
In many ways, Athletiq represents the rise of a new generation of Indian sports brands - brands that are deeply integrated into athlete development, community building, and grassroots growth rather than focusing only on product sales.
With its wide range of products that cater to all levels of pickleball players: beginners to advance, Athletiq is emerging as one of the most influential players in India's pickleball landscape.
With a strong community of players, coaches and sports courts, Athletiq is counted amongst the leading the pickleball brands in the country.
"At Athletiq, our vision is to help build the entire pickleball ecosystem in India - from grassroots participation and athlete development to tournaments, communities, and professional infrastructure. Our partnership with the national federation aligns with our vision and both organizations will work closely to promote the sport in India," said, Harsh Sharma, Founder, Athletiq
From supporting tournaments and emerging players to building visibility for the sport through partnerships and performance-focused products, Athletiq is helping shape the infrastructure around Indian pickleball's rapid expansion. In a market still dominated by imported brands and fragmented distribution, Athletiq is helping make pickleball more accessible to Indian players through performance-focused paddles, accessories, athlete engagement, tournament participation, and grassroots partnerships. More importantly, the brand is contributing to the professionalization of the sport by actively supporting players, clubs, tournaments, and emerging pickleball communities. Athletiq reflects a larger ambition - contributing meaningfully to the growth infrastructure of the sport itself.
India had fewer than 200 dedicated pickleball courts just a few years ago. Today, industry estimates suggest the country has crossed 1,200 courts, with new facilities emerging every week across cities including Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chennai, and Surat.
Participation is rising just as rapidly. Reports estimate that tens of thousands of Indians have taken up pickleball over the last 18 months, while long-term projections suggest India could eventually become one of the world's largest pickleball markets by player base with active players reaching 1 million by 2030 and with an estimated market size of one billion dollar i.e. INR 7500 crores.
Pickleball did not arrive with legacy, billion-dollar broadcasts, or decades of sporting history behind it. It arrived with accessibility, community, happy hormones, and a sense of belonging. And it will scale because of partnerships and synergies between governing bodies like the IPA and ecosystem enablers like Athletiq.
And perhaps for the first time, if you are an Indian athlete dreaming of a career in global pickleball, that possibility feels real.
Indian sports ecosystem is dominated by cricket for decades and formats like IPL succeeded because it transformed cricket from a sport into a complete business and entertainment ecosystem. Pickleball in India is now showing early signs of a similar transformation - where sport, fitness, lifestyle, community, and commerce converge together.
Of course, pickleball is still in its early stages compared to cricket's decades-old dominance. But every major sports movement begins with a cultural shift before becoming an economic powerhouse.
That cultural shift is clearly underway. For now, one thing is certain - pickleball in India is no longer an emerging trend. It is rapidly becoming a mainstream sporting movement. And organizations like IPA and brands like Athletiq are ensuring that this growth is not temporary hype, but the foundation of a lasting sports revolution.
