Latest news with #ArvindPrabhoo
India Gazette
17-06-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
IPF, WPF unify to form global governing body for Pickleball
New Delhi [India], June 17 (ANI): In a historic move for the sport of pickleball, member nations of the International Pickleball Federation (IPF) and the World Pickleball Federation (WPF) voted unanimously at Special General Meetings (SGMs) to unify into a single international governing body. The unified entity will uniquely continue to champion 'One Country One Vote' - ensuring proper representation for all nations. The new organisation will initially operate under the name World Pickleball Federation (WPF) and is established as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) entity registered in Illinois, USA. It will combine the assets and resources of both federations into one unified structure. To align with the global sports community and meet the highest standards of governance, the new WPF will also be registered in Lausanne, Switzerland--home to the International Olympic Committee (IOC)--and is fully committed to meeting all IOC recognition requirements, including: Democratic governance and equal voting rights for all member nations Transparent operations and financial oversight Gender equity and athlete representation Compliance with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) standards Conflict resolution and disciplinary frameworks Adherence to the Olympic Charter With WPF having been established over six years ago, the unified body is well-positioned to immediately begin the IOC recognition process. In contrast to any other organisations claiming to represent the sport internationally, the new WPF distinguishes itself through full democracy, transparency, and international legitimacy. 'This unification is a landmark achievement for pickleball worldwide. By combining our strengths and committing to the highest international standards, we are sending a clear message: pickleball is ready to take its place among the world's most respected sports,' said Arvind Prabhoo, President, IPF 'The pickleball community wants and needs one International Governing Body for the sport of pickleball. With 100 member countries and six years in business, the new unified WPF has met the first two critical requirements for IOC membership. We look forward to continuing to grow pickleball at the grassroots worldwide while pursuing our dream of being a full participating sport at an upcoming Olympic Games,' said Seymour Rifkind, President, WPF As part of its founding process, the new WPF is inviting nominations for Directors to form its inaugural Board. These Directors will be elected by member countries at the first Annual General Meeting (AGM) in August 2025, ensuring that governance reflects the sport's diversity, inclusivity, and global reach. This unification marks a transformative step in the evolution of pickleball on the world stage, laying a strong foundation for growth, legitimacy, and global recognition. Finally, with true democratic representation & governance on the world stage: Pickleball Wins! (ANI)
India Gazette
15-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Delhi high court has asked Sports Ministry to...": AIPA president Arvind on granting of NSF status to Indian Pickleball Association
New Delhi [India] May 15 (ANI): President All India Pickleball Association (AIPA), Arvind Prabhoo, highlighted that the Delhi High Court has instructed Ministry of Youth and Sports to provide a written explanation justifying the status of National Sports Federation (NSF) to the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA). AIPA strongly opposed the Sports Ministry's decision to grant National Sports Federation (NSF) status to the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA), as communicated in a letter dated April 25, as per the AIPA press release. AIPA believed this action appeared to have been influenced by undue lobbying and misleading representations made by the newly formed entity. Granting NSF status to an organisation formed in November 2024 -- bypassing AIPA's 18 years of contribution. While talking to the ANI Arvind Prabhoo President AIPA said,' We challenged it in the court and the honourable court has directed the Ministry of Youth and Sports to furnish under an affidavit the justification for giving relaxation you know they have offered relaxation to this Indian Pickleball Association so the court has asked justification of that. And that is what we are hearing on the 19th, that is coming Monday.' AIPA last Sunday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the ongoing injustice regarding the sport of Pickleball and its recognition being overlooked for the last 18 years by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS). 'We have sent it, we are requesting an opinion from the Honorable PM, PMO to look into this matter because according to us it draws injustice for us and all India Pickleball Association, and we are requesting them to intervene in this matter and get to the bottom of this,' Arvind Prabhoo said. Established in 2007, the All India Pickleball Association (AIPA) is the oldest and most widely represented governing body for pickleball in India, with active federations in 24 states. AIPA has played a pivotal role in the structured growth of the sport for nearly two decades and is also a founding member of both the International Pickleball Federation (IPF) and the Asian Pickleball Federation (APF), with official affiliations granted in 2015 and 2020, respectively, as per a press release from AIPA. AIPA pointed out that the recognition granted to IPA by the Sports Ministry has been made after relaxing key eligibility conditions outlined in the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011, including: --- Requirement of a minimum three-year existence: As per Para 3.3 of Annexure-II of the Sports Code 2011, a sports federation must be in existence and functioning for at least three years before it can be considered for recognition as an NSF. The IPA was incorporated in November 2024 and has therefore not met this minimum eligibility. --- Requirement of state-level representation: The Sports Code mandates that a State/UT unit of a federation must be affiliated with at least 50% of the district-level associations in that region to be considered valid. There is no verifiable evidence that IPA or its state units meet this remains committed to the values of fair play, sportsmanship, and clean sports governance and calls upon the Ministry to immediately review and rectify the decision in the larger interest of Pickleball and the Indian sporting community. (ANI)
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First Post
03-05-2025
- Sport
- First Post
Pickleball lands in Indian court: AIPA accuses IPA of misleading Sports Ministry for recognition
The Sports Ministry's decision to grant National Sports Federation status to the IPA rather than the much older AIPA has led to a court battle. AIPA's president explains the controversy in a conversation with Firstpost. read more The sport of pickleball in India has found a new court – the Delhi High Court as the judicial body has asked the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) to explain their recent decision to grant national sports federation (NSF) status to the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) instead of the much older All India Pickleball Association (AIPA). The IPA was recognised as India's national federation for pickleball on 25 April by the Sports Ministry. The recognition gives IPA the exclusive rights to receive financial grants from the government, and autonomy to regulate, promote and develop the sport nationally. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD AIPA has challenged the grounds on which IPA was afforded the recognition by the Indian Sports Ministry, when it's only a 'six-month-old' body, while they were established in 2007 and are currently present in 24 states through their state federations. The Sports Ministry is required to provide reasoning and justification for granting any exemptions under the National Sports Development Code of India by 19 May 2025. AIPA president Arvind Prabhoo, in an exclusive conversation with Firstpost, has alleged that IPA has attained recognition by misleading the Sports Ministry 'How can the Ministry relax statutory requirements when there's an existing federation available and that has already applied?' Prabhoo told Firstpost. 'I think the Ministry was misled by making some representation; we are not very sure, but according to me, the Ministry has been misled about certain facts by the other federation.' Prabhoo added that the AIPA has about 10,000 athletes associated with it and has been working to develop pickleball in India for more than a decade, making it the most eligible federation to earn recognition as the national federation. 'AIPA is in 24 states. We have about 10,000 players who are directly associated with us,' Prabhoo added. 'We hold four national ranking tournaments and we hold one national tournament every year. We have held eight national tournaments since 2013 and we have done two international tournaments. One was in 2022 and one was in 2024, the World Pickleball Championships. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'We have sent our players to Asian countries where we have won gold at Asian Pickleball Games two times in a row in Taiwan and our players are also World Pickleball Championships gold medallists, so we have over 100 international medals with our players.' Further making a case for AIPA, Prabhoo said being a federation for over 10 years and present in multiple states, it complies with key statutory requirements laid down in the National Sports Development Code of India to be recognised as an NSF. 'The Indian sports ministry has recognised the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA), which is a six-month-old association. It was formed in November 2024. We had already applied for recognition in October 2024, one month prior to even the formation of IPA. Now it has come as a big surprise, relaxing the two statutory requirements that the federation should be at least three years in operation and that it has to be present in 50% of the states. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'In the 25 April order, the ministry has relaxed two key statutory requirements.' Prabhoo revealed that while they had not been able to meet the Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya so far, they were always under the impression that they would be granted the recognition based on their long history. 'We were having talks with some people with the ministry and we were hoping that if there are any requirements from our end, we were ready to meet and fulfil that. Our founder, Sunil Walavalka,r also met Raksha Khadse (Minister of State in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of India) one and a half months ago. We were unable to meet Minister Mansukh Mandaviya as he was very busy. We met officials and secretaries there, asking if there's anything that needs to be done,' he said. 'As far as the secretary is concerned, we were informed we were absolutely inline to get the recognition. There was no other compliance required. She did mention we should try and meet the honourable minister because the other federation also had made a presentation directly to the minister. But we were trying to meet the minister but we could not get an appointment. In fact, there was a call made on our behalf by a senior member of the government whereby the honourable minister had assured the senior member that he would call me personally, that is, Arvind Prabhoo and other members of the federation but that never happened. So this has come as a big shock and surprise that, without giving us a chance to represent ourselves, the order came out.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Sports Ministry's decision in favour of IPA, which was registered last year, how now forced AIPA to move Delhi High Court and they are ready to take the fight to the Supreme Court if required. 'We will go to the Supreme Court. That is very clear. If we don't get relief in the High Court, we will approach the Supreme Court. We are willing to talk to the Sports Ministry and meet the honourable Minister,' Prabhoo signed off.
India Today
01-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Pickleball lands in administrative war as AIPA opposes government recognition of IPA
Just about finding its space in India right now, pickleball is already embroiled in an administrative turf war after the Sports Ministry granted national federation status to the recently formed Indian Pickleball Association (IPA), prompting the much older All India Pickleball Association (AIPA) to raise objections and threaten legal decision to grant recognition to IPA was taken on April 25, making it eligible for financial grants and autonomy to regulate, promote and develop the sport IPA has been recognised by the ministry after a representation by the body a few days ago," a sports ministry official told PTI. Pickleball, which has its origins in the USA, combines elements of tennis, table tennis and badminton. It is played in both singles and doubles format using a paddle and a perforated hollow plastic ball volleyed across a court that is the same size as a doubles' badminton court with a slightly low-placed net."This is a defining moment, but we see it as just the beginning. Our focus is firmly on the future, building a pipeline of talent, creating career opportunities, and ensuring every Indian has access to the joy and benefits of pickleball," IPA President Suryaveer Singh Bhullar posted on QUESTIONS GOVERNMENT 'S DECISIONThe AIPA issued a statement questioning the ministry's move, claiming it to be the "pioneering body responsible for introducing and nurturing Pickleball in India since 2007–08."advertisement"This decision is not only disheartening but raises serious concerns regarding transparency and fairness in sports governance. In the interest of fair play and sportsmanship, we urge the Ministry to reconsider its decision and uphold the values of clean sports," AIPA President Arvind Prabhoo AIPA cited a clause in the 2011 National Sports Code which mandates that for a body to be considered a National Sports Federation, it should have "actively existed for more than three years on the date of application for recognition."The IPA was registered in November last year as per the records of the Registrar of Companies, while the AIPA had completed this formality back in AIPA statement alleged that the Ministry's move appears to have been influenced by "undue lobbying and misleading representations made by the newly formed entity.""The AIPA gave a representation to the Sports Ministry on October 18 last year. But the Ministry has decided to grant recognition to a four-month old company that has no organisational set-up, no district level presence like us," AIPA Treasurer Nikhil Mathare told PTI."Given the exemptions that have been made for AIPA, we are left with no choice but to take legal recourse. But we will have a conversation with the ministry before we proceed with it," he global administration has also witnessed a fair number of tug of wars over the years. There are three bodies that claim to be global governing bodies of the International Pickleball Federation (IPF), the World Pickleball Federation (WPF) and the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF). The IPF came into existence in 2010, followed by the WPF in 2018, while the GPF was founded in 2023 after the USA broke ranks with the IPF
Mint
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Pickleball lands in administrative tug of war after ministry grants recognition to IPA
New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) Just about finding its space in India right now, pickleball is already embroiled in an administrative turf war after the Sports Ministry granted national federation status to the recently-formed Indian Pickleball Association (IPA), prompting the much older All India Pickleball Association (AIPA) to raise objections and threaten legal action. The decision to grant recognition to IPA was taken on April 25, making it eligible for financial grants and autonomy to regulate, promote and develop the sport nationally. "The IPA has been recognised by the ministry after a representation by the body a few days ago," a sports ministry official told PTI. Pickleball, which has its origins in the USA, combines elements of tennis, table tennis and badminton. It is played in both singles and doubles format using a paddle and a perforated hollow plastic ball volleyed across a court that is the same size as a doubles badminton court with a slightly low-placed net. "This is a defining moment, but we see it as just the beginning. Our focus is firmly on the future, building a pipeline of talent, creating career opportunities, and ensuring every Indian has access to the joy and benefits of pickleball," IPA President Suryaveer Singh Bhullar posted on Instagram. The AIPA issued a statement to question the Ministry's move, claiming to be the "pioneering body responsible for introducing and nurturing Pickleball in India since 2007–08" "This decision is not only disheartening but raises serious concerns regarding transparency and fairness in sports governance. In the interest of fair play and sportsmanship, we urge the Ministry to reconsider its decision and uphold the values of clean sports," AIPA President Arvind Prabhoo stated. The AIPA cited a clause in the 2011 National Sports Code which mandates that for a body to be considered a National Sports Federation, it should have "actively existed for more than three years on the date of application for recognition." The IPA was registered in November last year as per the records of the Registrar of Companies, while the AIPA had completed this formality back in 2008. The AIPA statement alleged that the Ministry's move appears to have been influenced by "undue lobbying and misleading representations made by the newly formed entity." "The AIPA gave a representation to the Sports Ministry on October 18 last year. But the Ministry has decided to grant recognition to a four-month old company that has no organisational set-up, no district level presence like us," AIPA Treasurer Nikhil Mathare told PTI. "Given the exemptions that have been made for AIPA, we are left with no choice but to take legal recourse. But we will have a conversation with the ministry before we proceed with it," he added. Pickleball's global administration has also witnessed a fair amount of tug of wars over the years. There are three bodies that claim to be global governing bodies of the sport. The International Pickleball Federation (IPF), the World Pickleball Federation (WPF) and the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF). The IPF came into existence in 2010, followed by the WPF in 2018, while the GPF was founded in 2023 after the USA broke ranks with the IPF. The IPF and WPF have been working towards merger since last year and the AIPA is affiliated to the former. The IPA is aligned with GPF, which claims to have most number of international members at 52 right now. First Published: 1 May 2025, 01:49 PM IST
