The United States has a history of turning pastimes into professional sports with remarkable confidence, from frisbee World Cups to hot dog eating contests. The latest in this trend is pickleball, a sport that originated in the backyard of a wealthy Caucasian family in the mid-20th century.Joel Pritchard, who later served in the U.S. Congress, invented the game when trying to entertain his family using whatever was available. The result was a sport described as a mix of tennis and table tennis played on a badminton court. While the origin of its name remains uncertain, pickleball has now become a global sensation.For the fourth consecutive year, pickleball has been the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., with nearly 50 million active players. Its appeal lies in its accessibility, allowing people of all generations to compete. The sport's rise has been so rapid that it was featured in major tennis events such as the Australian Open, Miami Open, and French Open.India has also witnessed an extraordinary rise in pickleball’s popularity. Between 2019 and 2022, there was a 159% increase in players, and while estimates vary, some suggest growth has reached 260% in the last three years. The World Pickleball League founder, Gaurav Natekar, recognized its potential, stating, “I got the sense this sport was going to be big because of how accessible it is.”Natekar, a seven-time national tennis champion and Arjuna Awardee, recently hosted his first major pickleball event in Mumbai. He noted that many tennis players are shifting towards pickleball, drawn by its engaging and fast-paced nature.With over 100,000 recreational players and nearly 500 professionals in India, the sport’s future appears promising. Tennis legend Andre Agassi even predicted its inclusion in the Olympics, saying, “It’s going to happen sooner than you think.”
