The Times Group, a news and entertainment company, announces its collaboration with Pickleball Asia to launch the Pickleball World Series, a new global league set to commence in the United States and expand across various continents with six major events in a year. The initiative marks the first global tournament for the rapidly growing sport of Pickleball.
Pickleball, described as a blend of tennis, table tennis, and badminton, has garnered widespread popularity worldwide for its inclusive gameplay. Notably, the sport has attracted enthusiasts spanning different age groups, as well as athletes and celebrities from tennis, table tennis, and badminton.
While existing competitions and leagues primarily focus on the US market, the Pickleball World Series aims to establish a global footprint and offer an enhanced entertainment experience. The inaugural edition of the series will feature 64 players in the individual format and six teams consisting of four players each, representing both the US and other regions, including India—an emerging hub for Pickleball.
“Pickleball is gaining ground as the game for urban sports enthusiasts. Times Group is known for its innovation and ability to be ahead of the curve in every one of its initiatives and we hope that this effort to take the fastest growing modern sport to the next level will inspire its exponential growth all over the world including in India. I personally believe that in five to seven years, Pickleball will overtake Tennis in terms of participation,” Vineet Jain, group managing director, Times Group, said.
“Rapidly accelerating participation and increasing fandom is driving the popularity of many innovative sports globally. That is the opportunity we spotted in Pickleball, an exciting sport that is being enjoyed by millions the world over. Powered by passion and fueled by competition, this fun and immersive sport has won over the hearts of Gen Z and Millennials, making it a natural choice for our partnership and an important addition to our portfolio of strong brands. The Pickleball World Series, our marquee event, will provide a unique platform to bring out the best in players and teams, for fans to enjoy and support their favourites, and for brands to engage and interact with these audiences.”, N Subramanian, CEO- New Media and Investments, Times Group, said.
“The Pickleball player community is now 60 million strong worldwide and is growing steadily. We could not have found a better partner, anchor and investor than the Times Group –which brings us many positives that will swiftly move the needle of growth. That is a big gain for the sport and the Series,” Pranav Kohli of Pickleball Asia said.
Kohli further stated that the Pickleball World Series would encapsulate the essence of the Pickleball community, aiming to offer thrilling competition and captivating entertainment centered on the sport. Commencing in the US, the series is set to traverse various continents, featuring six major events. Furthermore, the Series will be supported by the implementation of the Pickleball World Rankings, a unique ranking system enabling players to accumulate points and qualify for the Pickleball World Series. It is anticipated that this initiative will facilitate the rise of Pickleball stars from different corners of the world, rather than solely from the US.
Pranav Kohli is a fourth-generation entrepreneur associated with the brand ‘Stag’, recognised for its table tennis gear globally, as well as Pickleball Asia and Pickleball United. As CEO, Pickleball United has become a prominent infrastructure provider for Pickleball in the US, involved in various major events both domestically (including Pickleball Slam, US Indoor National Championships, US Open) and internationally (such as the English Open, Bainbridge Cup).
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