Absolute Sports Pvt. Ltd., an arm of Nazara Technologies Limited and the parent company of Sportskeeda and Pro Football Network, has announced its entry into the rapidly expanding global sport of pickleball by acquiring the Mumbai franchise in the inaugural Indian Pickleball League (IPBL).
The franchise rights deal has been signed with the league’s organisers, PWR Indian League and Tour Private Limited, which is strategically sponsored by The Times Group, India’s largest media conglomerate.
Pickleball, which combines tennis, badminton, and table tennis, has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing sports. The global market is expected to grow from USD 1.5 billion in 2023 to $4.4 billion by 2033. Participation in India increased by 159% between 2019 and 2022, owing to widespread acceptance in health clubs, residential communities, and sporting academies. The Indian Pickleball League is projected to accelerate this momentum by increasing fan involvement and opening up new business opportunities in media, merchandising, and grassroots development.
Absolute Sports, which has exclusive rights to the Mumbai territory, will build and administer the franchise, including its digital identity, branding, website, social media presence, athlete marketing, and fan engagement efforts. This deal adds to Absolute Sports’ aim of connecting internet fans with on-ground sporting experiences while also emphasising the company’s strategy of growing into high-growth sports ecosystems.
Ajay Pratap Singh, Director & CEO of Absolute Sports, said, “Our mission at Absolute Sports is simple, be where the fans are. Pickleball is no longer an emerging trend. It’s a global movement and is rapidly becoming a lifestyle and competitive sport in India. Securing the Mumbai franchise allows us to deeply engage with this growing community and leverage our expertise in content, storytelling, and fandom to build a team that the city can rally behind. This investment is perfectly aligned with our strategy of targeting high-engagement sports assets.”
Vineet Jain, Managing Director, The Times Group, said, “We are delighted to welcome Nazara as the owners of the Mumbai franchise in the Indian Pickleball League. Nazara has been a pioneer in gaming and digital sports entertainment, and their entry into IPBL is yet another signal of the exciting future of this sport. With their innovation-driven mindset and deep understanding of young India, we believe they will play a transformative role in shaping the league, inspiring fans, and building a strong and passionate pickleball community in Mumbai. Together, we look forward to taking the sport to new heights and creating a league that India will be proud of.”
With the Asia-Pacific region expected to be the world’s biggest pickleball market through 2029, this move puts Absolute Sports, and, by extension, Nazara Technologies, at the forefront of a rapidly expanding sports category, combining digital innovation with live sporting engagement to capture the next wave of India’s sports entertainment evolution.
