IPA Recognized As Pickleball’s Official Body Of India

The Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) — now officially recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India — has been entrusted with the responsibility to govern, promote, and develop pickleball across the country. This landmark recognition validates IPA as the sole apex body for the sport in India and marks a turning point in its national and global journey.

With systematic and painstaking groundwork laid by the members in IPA and a fast-growing community behind it, IPA is ready to drive the next chapter: building a nationwide ecosystem of access, excellence, and opportunity. This includes embedding pickleball in schools, communities, and elite training programs, and preparing Indian athletes for the global stage.

“This recognition is a historic milestone — but more importantly, it is a mandate to act,” said Suryaveer Singh Bhullar, President of IPA. “We are committed to building a world-class sporting structure for pickleball in India. The mission is clear: talent identification, equitable access, professional training, and global competitiveness – winning medals for India at the junior and pro categories at the world stage.”

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He further commented, “The current IPA team brings a wealth of experience — from organizing multiple state and national-level pickleball events to conducting coach certification programs and running junior development academies. Many of us have also represented India on the global stage — at the Olympics, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games — as players, coaches, and administrators. This collective expertise is a tremendous asset for the growth of pickleball in India. As a team, we are committed to making pickleball one of the most popular sports in the country.”

IPA’s Vision and Youth Development Focus

The Indian Pickleball Association envisions a robust and inclusive sporting ecosystem built on the following pillars:

• 100,000 active registered players regularly participating in events
• National-level competitions across all age groups
• Comprehensive grassroots development programs
• Establishment of more National High-Performance Centres for elite training in addition to existing Centres.


A key priority for the IPA is youth player development, training and officiating, and professional pathways and events. To this end, the association is actively working to:

• Rollout of Pickleball in schools, through alignment with programs like Khelo India.
• Women’s Pickleball Cup expansion, championing gender inclusion.
• Host International Coaches Conferences to facilitate knowledge exchange and Nationwide certification programs for referees and coaches, creating employment and structure.
• Conduct multiple state events through state associations leading to nationals leading to India’s representation at the Pickleball World Cup and other International Events.
• On top of this, Indian Pickleball League, sanctioned by IPA will feature 6 teams and about 36 Indian and International top players, and will take place in the second half of 2025.
• The league was announced with Tennis Icons Andre Agassi and Rohan Bopanna in December 2024 in Mumbai
• Streamline the junior and national ranking structure.

Demonstrating its nationwide impact, the IPA Nationals in January 2025 at Bennett University, Greater Noida, welcomed over 500 players from more than 20 Indian states. The tournament featured 14 international-standard courts, showcasing the rising competitive standards in India.

Previously, the IPA sanctioned PWR DUPR India Masters 2024 at DLTA Stadium, New Delhi, brought global attention to Indian pickleball. The event drew players from around the world and was covered by media houses like DD National, Times Now, Zoom, Mirror Now, and leading YouTube channels such as Pickleball Now.

The IPA also hosted clinics and coaching programs in India led by APP World #1 Megan Fudge DeHeart and APP World #5 Ryler DeHeart — underscoring its commitment to bringing the best global expertise to India.

Over the past three years, pickleball has rapidly gained popularity in India — inspired by its phenomenal growth in the US and accelerated by a post-pandemic shift toward new-age sports. IPA, and the leaders now at its helm, have been central to this surge. The association has been carefully structured with member states and individuals who bring unmatched credibility — from Olympians and national champions to experienced sports administrators, business leaders, and certified coaches.

 
The IPA Leadership

IPA’s Executive Board brings together 14 visionary leaders committed to the sport’s integrity and growth. Notable members include:

• Suryaveer Singh Bhullar – IPA President, National Champion, and Asian Gold Medalist (50+)
• Dhiren Patel – US Open Gold Medalist and National Champion (35+) and India No. 1 (35+)
• Vishnu Vardhan – Tennis Olympian and Silver Medalist in Asian Games
• Lt. Col. Ranbir Chauhan – Veteran sports administrator – over 25 years of International, and National exposure
• Praveen Singh – Tournament Director of various International Sporting Events
• Vivek Shokeen – Former Davis Cupper India, Active Pickleball Player, A True Athlete and A Coach
• Amrita Mukherjee – Women’s National Champion (Open)
• Raima Sen – Actor and pickleball advocate
  
  Coaching and Officiating Leadership
• Dilip Mohanty, Head of PPR India, has led the training and certification of over 100 coaches nationwide.
• Abhishek Mukherjee, world-class tennis official, leads IPA’s referee program, bringing international standards to Indian tournaments.
  
  
  The Sportz Planet Desk