Hyderabad Set to Host Indian Open Pickleball Championship 2026
HYDERABAD: The fourth edition of the Indian Open pickleball tournament, organised by Global Sports, will take place from April 1 to 5 at Crosscourts in Hyderabad.Hyderabad Set to Host Indian Open Pickleball Championship 2026 The Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) has now sanctioned the event as a PWR 1000 tournament.
More than 1,500 participants are expected to compete across 56 categories for a total prize pool of USD 50,000.
Notably, the sanction marks a formal partnership between Global Sports and the IPA. As a result, the privately organised tournament series now operates within the official governance framework of the national federation.
Private Tournament Series Joins National Structure
With this move, one of the country’s largest privately organised pickleball tournaments officially joins the IPA’s national system. Furthermore, officials confirmed that Global Sports will conduct future tournaments under the aegis of the Indian Pickleball Association.
The IPA serves as the official governing body for pickleball in India. Importantly, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has recognised it as a National Sports Federation.
Suryaveersingh Bhullar, president of the Indian Pickleball Association, said the partnership will strengthen the sport’s growth in the country.
“By bringing Global Sports into the IPA fold, we ensure that every volley played in the Indian Open contributes to a single, unified vision for the country. Moreover, we remain committed to providing athletes with a world-class platform governed by the highest standards of integrity and excellence,” he said.
Rising Participation from India and Abroad
Global Sports has organised the Indian Open for four editions so far. Over the years, the tournament has attracted significant international participation.
According to the organisers, more than 4,000 players from 19 countries have already competed in previous editions across various categories.
Meanwhile, Shashank Khaitan, co-founder and partner at Global Sports, said the partnership with the IPA will help create a stronger ecosystem for pickleball in India.
“Aligning with the IPA allows us to formalise our efforts. In addition, it ensures that our players receive the national recognition they deserve. The Global Sports Indian Open becoming a PWR 1000 event is only the beginning of a long journey to make India a global hub for the sport,” Khaitan said.
