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India Today
14-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Inside the battle for pickleball: Arvind Ramesh Prabhoo calls for national recognition
Pickleball, a sport still finding its footing in India, has become the center of a dispute after the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) granted national federation status to the newly formed Indian Pickleball Association (IPA). The decision, made on April 25, gives IPA the authority to regulate and promote the sport nationwide, alongside financial backing. However, this has sparked protests from the All India Pickleball Association (AIPA), which has been at the forefront of pickleball's growth in India for nearly two in 2007, AIPA has a deep-rooted presence in 24 states and believes its long-standing contributions to the sport should have earned it the coveted NSF status. The decision to award this recognition to IPA, formed in November 2024 and with only a few months of history, has raised questions of fairness and argues that MYAS's recognition of IPA undermines years of work and dedication to the sport's development. AIPA insists it has laid a solid foundation and, with its track record, should have been the rightful recipient of the CONCERNS ABOUT FAIRNESS AND DUE PROCESS In an exclusive conversation with AIPA President Arvind Ramesh Prabhoo expressed his dissatisfaction with the MYAS decision, describing the recognition of IPA as both premature and unjust. According to Prabhoo, AIPA has laid a solid foundation for the sport in India and should have been acknowledged for its consistent, long-term was established in 2008, and over the years, we have worked tirelessly to introduce, nurture, and expand pickleball across India," Prabhoo explained. "We are actively involved in 24 states through our grassroots programs and have been affiliated with the International Pickleball Federation (IPF) since 2015. We have also been a founding member of the Asia Federation of Pickleball since 2020. Yet despite all this, the recognition went to IPA, a body formed just in November 2024 with little history or substantial contributions to the sport," he added, raising concerns about the process behind the also pointed to a critical timeline issue, noting that AIPA had submitted its own application for national federation status months before IPA was even established. "On October 18, 2024, AIPA officially applied for recognition from MYAS, well before IPA was even formed. Despite this, MYAS chose to recognize IPA, disregarding the work we've done over the years. This decision undermines the National Sports Code of 2011, which stipulates that an organization must demonstrate substantial activity and longevity to be eligible for NSF status," he ROLE IN THE GROWTH OF PICKLEBALLPrabhoo went on to detail the many ways in which AIPA has been instrumental in the development of pickleball in India. The association has organized numerous national and international tournaments, developed world-class training programs, and helped countless players refine their skills for competition on the international has been key in organizing several prestigious tournaments, such as the Bainbridge Cup in December 2022, the World Pickleball Championship in 2024, and the upcoming World Pickleball League in 2025. Between 2013 and 2025, we have conducted eight National Tournaments, six National Ranking Tournaments, the Federation Cup, and the Indian Open, to name a few," Prabhoo tournaments, AIPA has put in place comprehensive training programs aimed at developing players' skills, physical fitness, diet, and mental conditioning. "We've also established coaching programs in various states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala, producing over 100 certified coaches. These coaches are spreading the sport across India, while our referee clinics ensure that officiating is held to international standards," Prabhoo explained, underscoring AIPA's holistic approach to building the sport's IMPACT ON THE GLOBAL STAGEAIPA's efforts have not only influenced the national landscape but have also contributed significantly to the global pickleball scene. The association has been a full member of the International Pickleball Federation (IPF) since 2015 and has achieved a series of international milestones, such as hosting the World Pickleball Championship in 2024 and sending Indian teams to global has been instrumental in sending Indian teams to the Asian Pickleball Games in 2022, 2023, and 2024, held in Taiwan, as well as the World Pickleball Championships in Bali in 2022 and 2023. Our youth teams, including those in the under-12, under-14, and under-16 categories, have participated in the Asia Junior Pickleball Championship in Vietnam, winning medals and putting India on the global map for pickleball," Prabhoo stated with ROAD AHEAD: CHALLENGES AND HOPES FOR PICKLEBALL'S GROWTHDespite the recognition setback, AIPA remains resolute in its mission to grow the sport in India. Prabhoo acknowledged that the absence of pickleball from the Olympic roster has been a significant hurdle in securing formal recognition, but he remains hopeful that the Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) forthcoming affiliation will open the door for greater support and recognition."We have faced funding challenges, but our commitment to the sport remains unwavering," Prabhoo said. "The recognition of IPA complicates matters, as it overlooks years of grassroots development in favor of a new organization with no established track record. The key difference between AIPA and IPA is that AIPA was formed in 2008 and has built the sport from the ground up, while IPA, formed just in November 2024, has no significant infrastructure or presence."Looking ahead, AIPA is focused on long-term growth both domestically and internationally. "Our governance system is well-established, with representation in 24 states, and our international affiliations with the IPF and the Asia Federation of Pickleball are testaments to our commitment to bringing India to the world stage for pickleball," Prabhoo concluded.
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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.
