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Time of India

'Started as a fitness activity, became a weekend hang'

Many on-court rallies lead to off-court friendships When Ayush Aggarwal, a Delhi-based lawyer, moved to Noida, he searched for 'racquet sports facility near me' on his first weekend in the area. 'Making full use of my weekend, I chose to play racquet sports at a nearby arena. I met a few people, we formed a team, and we're now in touch over WhatsApp,' he says. Like him, many sports enthusiasts across the NCR are heading to sports facilities over the weekend. While they may be going there to reconnect with an old hobby, most of them are finding friendships on the badminton court or football field. 'Some corporate professionals like coming directly from the office to play football, cricket, etc together on Fridays, between 7pm-10pm' (Location: Rackonnect, Gurgaon) 'Even if we wrap up work at 3am, we meet for games at 7am' Weekend sports activities are doubling up as social time. 'I go for badminton on weekends and holidays, sometimes after work too. For us, a group of seven now, playing badminton together takes priority over sleep. Even if we wrap up work at 2 or 3am, we meet on the court at 7am. Our families know each other, we celebrate occasions together, and even go to watch cricket matches, on cycling tours and more,' says Kunwardeep Budhraja, a sales lead based in Noida. 'Game meetups often turn into group brunches or picnics' Delhi-based merchandiser Arushi Gupta, who along with her four friends, started going to a sports facility on Sundays, now has a group of 15. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo 'We unwind together on the court and chill with a glass of lemonade after our game. On the weekends, courts are usually full, so we pre-book them.' I found like-minded individuals who find comfort in intense games. We started as strangers, became friends, and today, one of them is my flatmate Ayush Aggarwal, a Noida-based lawyer 'Always formed healthy, strong connections through badminton sessions' For some, picking up a sport began as a way to unwind, but became a gateway to meaningful connections. Mrinal Pathak, a media professional, says, 'Wherever I've stayed for higher studies and for work, I've always formed healthy and strong connections through badminton sessions. As a kid, the sport helped me come out of my shell as an introvert. Even now, I sometimes struggle socially — but never on a court, so it helps me build connections. ' 'Cross-organisation friendships are brewing with sports' (Location: Games Forest, Gurgaon) Saniya Santhosh, a business analyst, shares her experience, 'I started playing badminton on the weekends to take a break after a hectic work week. While the people who show up on these games are a mix of amateurs and beginners, I've found partners whose timings and skills levelled with mine. What started off as a way to let off steam and remain fit, ended up becoming bonding sessions, leading to three of them becoming my buddies even off the court. Now, we watch movies together, catch up over coffee, and also visit each other's houses on special occasions.' Game meetups often turn into group brunches or picnics, where participants-turned-friends mingle and talk about everything, beyond the game Aditi Saxena, who goes to the frisbee club at Lodhi Gardens 'Cross organisation friendships are brewing with sports' Multi-sport facilities are facilitating people's need to embrace IRL connections. A facility manager at a Gurgaon venue shares, 'Fridays and Saturdays are the busiest. Cross-organisation friendships are also brewing at our sporting facility. Many of them, who started playing together, chill at the cafe to enjoy a post-game chai.' Nirvana Escapes founder Divish Manuja, who organises weekend sporting events in collaboration with sports venues, shares that these events go beyond fitness. 'These events have become a platform for people to break away from digital distractions and form real-world connections. Many participants have found close friends, workout buddies, and even creative collaborators through these meetups. Sport has this unique ability to dissolve barriers – be it age, profession, or language – and these hangouts are a testament to that," he says. Post-game hang is a thing (Pics: @ 'Some corporate professionals like coming directly from the office to play football, cricket, etc together on Fridays, between 7pm-10pm,' shares a Gurgaon-based facility manager.