Professional pickleball signs first international deal, aims to expand the sport in India.

• Pickleball, a rapidly expanding sport in the United States, seeks to maintain its growth in India.
• The United Pickleball Association announced events starting in 2025 in India.
• Major League Pickleball will also begin selling franchises in India.

Pickleball, America's fastest-growing sport, is expanding to India as its next frontier.

On Thursday, the United Pickleball Association and Global Sports reached an agreement to introduce the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball to China.

The United Pickleball Association has made its first international deal and major announcement since its formation through a merger between Major League Pickleball and the Professional Pickleball Association in February.

After the merger, the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball retained their unique brand identities. The PPA Tour offers an individual bracket-style tournament, while MLP is a team-based format.

Terms of the deal were not available.

The PPA Tour India and MLP India will provide a platform for players to compete on the world's largest pickleball stage and achieve the pinnacle of the sport. In collaboration with Global Sports, we will enhance the game and expose it to a vast audience, as stated by Connor Pardoe, founder and CEO of the PPA Tour.

The PPA Tour will make an official tour stop in India next February, marking its debut event in Asia and attracting players from around the globe.

PPA Tour India will be launched as part of the deal, providing ranking points to players at events across the country.

A competition featuring a mix of players from India, Major League Pickleball (MLP), and Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour professionals will be held in India.

The United Pickleball Association intends to sell MLP franchises through an open process with the aim of launching a full 12-team season in 2025-2026.

Franchises are expected to cost in the seven-figure range, according to sources.

In September, Major League Pickleball announced its expansion into Australia.

The APP Tour, which caters to both beginners and seniors, has been instrumental in introducing the sport to India, the UK, Spain, and Sweden.

In India, Global Sports is at the forefront of bringing pickleball and operates courts and organizes tournaments.

Global Sports partner Shashank Khaitan stated that pickleball in India has experienced significant growth in recent years, allowing existing players to compete at a higher level.