Asia’s Biggest Pickleball Tournament unveiled at Star-Studded Event

Globalsports have announced Asia’s largest pickleball tournament – the Indian Open and Global Sports Pro and Challenger League 2025.


"Pickleball is a game of inclusion, fun, and passion."

Asia’s largest pickleball tournament was announced at a star-studded press conference.

Globalsports hosted the grand press conference to announce the Indian Open League 2025 and Global Sports Pro and Challenger League.

The event unveiled the 10 city-based teams and their owners amid a gathering of renowned personalities from the worlds of sports, business and entertainment.

The press conference was attended by the likes of Karan Johar, who is the league’s brand ambassador; Global Sports Pickleball founder Hemal Jain; the league’s co-founder Shashank Khaitan; and professional pickleball player Yuvraj Ruia.

Speaking about his association with the league, Karan said:

“Pickleball is a game of inclusion, fun, and passion.

“Being a part of this revolutionary moment is an honour, and I am thrilled to contribute to bringing this incredible sport to the forefront.”

Asia's Biggest Pickleball Tournament unveiled at Star-Studded Event

The highlight of the event was the announcement of the 10 teams representing cities across India.

The teams and their owners are:

  1. The Mumbai Chhatrapati Warriors – Janhvi Kapoor. Representing the franchise Josh Majumdar.
  2. The Ahmedabad Olympians – Anmol Patel and Aditya Gandhi.
  3. The Bengaluru Blazers – Amrita Deora.
  4. The Chennai Cool Cats – Anshuman Ruia, Radhika Ruia and Yudi Ruia.
  5. The Delhi Snipers – Jai Gandhi, Krish and Karyna Bajaj.
  6. The Goa Gladiators – Samrat Javeri, Atul Rawat, Rajesh Advani, Sachin Bhansali.
  7. The Hyderabad Vikings – Akshay Reddy.
  8. The Jaipur Jawans – Luv Ranjan and Anubhav Singh Bassi.
  9. The Kolkata Kings – Varun Vora and Rohan Khemka.
  10. The Nashik Ninjas – Karishma Thakker.

These teams will compete for a prize pool of $125,000.

Sharing the vision for the league, Hemal Jain said:

“Our goal is to elevate pickleball to unprecedented heights in India and beyond.

“This league is a celebration of talent, unity, and the incredible growth of the sport in our country.”

Shashank Khaitan added: “The Indian Open League is not just a competition—it’s a movement to inspire young talent and create a platform for pickleball to flourish as a mainstream sport in India.”

Set to be held from February 3 to 9 in Mumbai, the Indian Open League and Global Sports Pro and Challenger League at Nesco, Goregaon will see over 1,800 players competing.

With players hailing from over 15 cities, the event will include pro and amateur leagues, providing a platform for emerging talents and seasoned professionals alike.

Under the leadership of Hemal Jain and co-founders Niraj Jain, Divyesh Jain, and Suresh Bhansali, Globalsports has been pivotal in cultivating a thriving pickleball ecosystem in India.

The addition of Bollywood personalities Shashank Khaitan, Yuvraj Ruia and Karan Johar adds a unique blend of entertainment and sportsmanship to the league.

Lead Editor Dhiren is our news and content editor who loves all things football. He also has a passion for gaming and watching films. His motto is to "Live life one day at a time".




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