People Playing Pickleball at a Facility at Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi. Photo: Special Arrangement
Once Considered Niche Imports from the West, Both Pickleball and Padel are now Fast Embedding Themselves Into The Indian Urban Fabric, Driven by his accessibility, Community Spirit, And Fitness Application.
While Mumbai remains the epicentre of India’s pickleball boom and ahmedabad has made strong strides, delhi ncr is rapidly closing the gap, bursting with potential.
“Today, We have more than 250 pickball courts just in Delhi NCR,” Suhail Narin, Founder and CEO of Hudle, A Leading Tech Solution Platform Connecting Players and Sports Factiits, TOCTES FACILITES FACILITES FACILITES FACILIS “We are adding 30 to 40 new courts a month – that is more than one new court every day.”
Delhi’s giant strides
According to Suhail, Mumbai and Ahmedabad are still ahead in terms of the overall number of courts and player participation. However, Delhi and Its National Capital Region, He Said, Fuelled by a Surge in Young Working Professionals, Corporates, and Families Embracing the Sport, Is Projected to Soon SUN SURPASS AHMADABAD.
At present, 60 per cent of the pickleball courts in delhi ncr are dedicated facilities, while the remain 40 per cent are multipurpose courts. Such is its popularity that basketball courts in schools are being
“The beauty of pickleball is that it breaks age barriers,” Suhail Observed. “From 20-Year-Elds to 60-Year-Alds, Players from all walks of life are enjoying the game togeether. People of different ages to play togeether. ”
“Picklaball acts as a great levelr. While it has become a popular trend among working professionals between 20 and 30 years old, we are also see also 50s, and 60s. For many older people, it is even replacing their morning walk routines, “He remarked.
Across India, Hudle Now Lists Over 1,500 Pickleball and Padel Courts. “Delhi and Bengaluru are emerging as fast-road hubs,” stated suhail.
Pickleball or Padel?
As both sports gather momentum, a natural question emerges: which one is pulling ahead – and is there any friction between them?
“Pickball is ahead of padel when it comes to player base and the number of courts. Padel is also slightly technical sport and needs more investment than pickball,” Suhail noted. “However, Since Padel Courts are more in number and require a higher investment to set up, they often see better occupance rates. Typically, for every 10 pickleball courses, there is are about 2 padel count. While the average pickleball player plays around five times a month, for Padel, the average is slightly higher at About Seven Games A Month. “
The technicality and infrastructure needs of Padel make it less ubiquitous. But in places like delhi, where 25-30 Commercial Padel Courts Alredy Exist (Compared to 65-75 in Mumbai), the sport is steadily carving out its niche.
Anant Jangwal, Founder and CEO of Play Padel, Made a Bold Prediction for Padel. “By the year 2028, there could be as many as 1,000 Padel Courts in India. For Pickleball, We Estimate A Total of 150 Commercial Pickelball Courts in Mumbai, and about the Samme Indi Ncr. Cold be as many as 2,500 pickleball courts in India, “He Told Ani.
Picklenomics
But at the moment, pickleball keeps a step ahead. It is not only encouraging people who are played sports to play but also create a new marketplace. “In Fact, Delhi is one of the most expensive markets. Today, We Charge Between Rs 700 to Rs 700 to Rs 1,200 per hour to Rent out a Pickball Court, While The charge for Premium Venues Cannes Go Us 1,50000. Padel, Requering Larger, Costlier Courts, Charges Anywhere Between Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 per hour, “Reveled Suhail.
Echoing Him, Alpesh Patel, City Leader at Decathlon Sports India, Said, “Padel and Pickleball are experiencing remarkable 4X growth in the Delhi NCR Region Fuelled by Strong Communication Engague From Youth, Corporate Groups, and Families is Driving This Growth. “
However, their Rapid Rise in Participation is not affecting traditional sports eather. “Our badminton numbers are really impressive. Who have skills to play it, “Suhail said. “Picklaball, on the contrary, is bringing new people into the sporting fold – that who previous Never played any sport.”
More than a digital fad
Yet, like with any rising trend, skepticism lingers. Is this just another Urban digital media creation destined to fade away? Industry Insiders Think Otherwise.
“Pickball is not a digital fad; it is a physical experience. On you start enjoying it, you start loving it,” Suhail Argued. “It offers Real-Life Experiences, Unlike Viral Social Media Trends that Burn out Fast.”
A Michigan University alumnus, he is so confident in pickleball’s Rise that he said it will only sweep India, much like cricket, with players filling in lanes and byles cits.
“We are observing it closely. Pickleball will actually become like that.
As the courts fill up and the rackets continue to find new hands, Delhi – The National Capital of India – Is Quistly observing a revolution a revolution that is here to sustain.
