The All India Pickleball Association (AIPA) staged the World Pickleball Championship (WPC) Series for the first time in India from November 12-17, 2024, at the prominent Cricket Club of India (CCI), Mumbai.
The event drew around 55 foreign players from 16 nations to the Indian stage after tremendously successful legs in Vietnam and Bali.
Notably, Team India shone out as the best-performing nation, winning 28 medals, including 11 golds, and the coveted team event championship.
Overall, the WPC provided an exciting week of top-tier pickleball action. Furthermore, the event became significant in terms of motivating youngsters, spectators, and the broader sports community owing to the players, organisers, and sponsorship from top businesses.
AIPA’s efforts to bring the WPC to India for the first time represent a big step forward for the sport, transforming it into a celebration of skill, passion, and worldwide fellowship.
To gain more insight into the commercial side of things, SportsMint Media got the opportunity to interview Arvind Prabhoo, President of AIPA.
In a brief chat, Mr Prabhoo mentioned the impact of hosting the WPC in Mumbai, importance of pickleball in future, selling points to sponsors, ROI and more.
1. How do you perceive the impact of hosting the World Pickleball Championship in Mumbai on the development and popularisation of the sport in India?
It is a wonderful privilege for All India Pickleball Association (AIPA) to organise the WPC in Mumbai. It would undoubtedly grow the sport in India and benefit many of the young people who come to watch the game. The tournament gathered 55 international players, and I believe it will help to promote the game at the grassroots level while also providing an opportunity for players to compete against the best.
2. How important do you believe it is for India to establish itself as a leading force in pickleball, especially given the sport’s growing popularity and the potential for its inclusion in future Olympic Games?
Our primary aim for AIPA and the International Pickleball Federation is to get the sport to the Olympics. Every athlete’s ultimate ambition is to win an Olympic medal, and if we start with youngsters, perhaps in the years 2032 or 2036, when the Olympics comes to India, we will be prepared with a large contingent of players capable of earning medals at the top levels.
3. AIPA has secured a range of sponsors for the WPC. What do you consider to be the primary selling points that make this event appealing to these sponsors?
AIPA was founded in 2007, and for the previous 17 years, we have worked relentlessly to promote the game. I believe that one of the most clinching factors for any major corporate sponsor is what we do at the grassroots level, and they studied and evaluated what we have been doing at the grassroots level for the previous years, which I believe was the primary reason they came forward. All of our paperwork, all of our statutory requirements, whether with the ROC, the income tax, or the charity commissioner, are all in order, which is vital for sponsors. These are a few clinching points for corporates to sponsor us.
4. Given that the WPC is an inaugural event in India, what do you perceive as the potential return on investment (ROI) for sponsors and stakeholders?
We have the rights to host WPC in India for the next five years, and ROI does not occur in the first year. We have been lucky to have excellent sponsors. When we conduct the PNL at the conclusion of the event, we can see if we made a profit on it. But, moving forward, I see that with the mileage that the sponsor receives from us, we will be able to generate a profit enough to sneak into the WPC.
5. In your opinion, how can hosting a high-profile event like the WPC provide significant financial support for players, especially at the grassroots and professional levels?
AIPA has helped many grassroots players from rural India become champions. These champions are travelling across the world earning prizes and are now able to support themselves via pickleball. I believe it is an amazing journey for these individuals who are not very well educated but have really strong skill, and they are now able to support themselves with an excellent livelihood and also take care for their family in rural India. I believe it’s a fantastic sport to be involved in, especially since individuals can make a living from it.
6. As the President of the AIPA, how do you view the growing trend of pickleball?
More than anything, it humbles me, the effort that we put in and the manner that the people have supported us has been quite humbling. It’s an exciting experience to witness this dream become reality.