大象传媒

Pickleball is played in over 80 countries, and is extremely popular in the Asia Pacific region, as well as in the United States.

According to the All India Pickleball Federation, pickleball is played across 18 states in the country with 8,000 registered players and over 30,000 amateur players, with a target to get over 1 million players playing in the country in the next five years.

As India launches the world's first professional pickleball league, International Pickleball Federation president Arvind Prabhoo told Sportshour's Shabnam Younus-Jewell about his hopes for the growth of the sport.

Photo: Prycen Haas prepares to hit a cross-court dink shot against Riley Newman and Christian Alshon on center court during the first round of the Pro Mens Doubles at the 2023 BioFreeze USA Pickleball National Championships held at the Brookhaven Country Club on November 8, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Credit: Getty Images)