The game has seen a growth of >400% in players in the past 6 years! So much so that today the US has more Pickleball players than Football (what they call soccer)!
To me, it seems like pickleball was made for India. Here’s why –
India has had a culture of Racquet sports – squash, tennis, badminton and more. It started in sports clubs but, the culture’s goes so deep that even residential complexes are now building courts.
However, the problem with these sports is there’s a steep learning curve. As someone who’s played squash for 20 years - it’s hard to have a competitive/enjoyable game with my wife who’s just started off. It’s neither fun for her nor me. 💯 marks to Trisha for trying though 😂
Pickleball in simple terms merges Badminton and Tennis but with 1/3rd the size of a regular tennis court and 1/10th the cost of Padel court in CAPEX. All this makes it a lucrative investment from a business POV.
India has a rising interest in sport. But, we’re just starting. We’re a walking nation not a running nation yet. And so, easier games, suitable for beginners with less strain will work i.e. pickle.
1) It’s easier to pick up than tennis, badminton or squash
2) Can be played indoors and outdoors
3) Can be played by all ages (jointly). My parents can play (not revealing their age 😂) and so can my 7 year old niece!
4) It has a much lower strain on the heart and so can be enjoyed by people who aren’t used to as much physical exertion!
I started 2 months ago and got massively hooked, as did Trisha and my parents.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, With only a handful of courts and players in the 1000s India, we’ve still got a long way to go.
Most sports have been scaling for years. This is unique. Think about being there at the time when tennis/football was created. This is the time to land grab. And, it won’t last so long.
Have you played it before?
Pro Tip: if you’re looking to have fun play doubles. If you’re looking for a serious workout go for singles :)
PS: India won 3 golds and 2 bronze in the Asian Pickleball Championships yesterday. Seems like a sport we can also do well professionally.
PPS: I didn’t forget Padel - post on that coming soon :)
#India #Pickleball #RacquetSports #PickleballIndia
This post was originally shared by Arjun Vaidya on Linkedin.