Rush Sports has strengthened its focus on women’s participation in sport with the appointment of former Indian tennis player and professional pickleball athlete Sharmada Balu, who will work with the company’s women-focused initiative, ShePlays by Rush.
Balu brings experience across two professional racket sports, having competed at the highest levels of tennis before establishing herself in the rapidly growing pickleball ecosystem. Her appointment adds an athlete with both elite competition experience and a first-hand understanding of the challenges involved in building a sustained career in sport.
A former India No. 3 in tennis, Balu has won 18 international ITF titles, claimed a South Asian Games gold medal and reached a career-high WTA ranking of No. 335 in doubles. She has also represented India on the international circuit.
Balu subsequently made a return to competitive sport and transitioned into pickleball, where she has continued to build her profile. Rush says she is currently India No. 4 in Women’s Pro Singles and has won medals in 11 of her last 12 tournaments, underlining her standing in the country’s emerging pickleball landscape.
Her role at Rush will extend beyond her career as an athlete. Through ShePlays, Balu will contribute to efforts to create more spaces, communities and opportunities for women to enter sport and remain involved in it.
The appointment comes against the backdrop of growing efforts across India’s sports ecosystem to expand women’s participation beyond traditional elite pathways. At the same time, pickleball is developing rapidly as both a recreational and competitive sport, creating opportunities across facilities, events, coaching and community engagement.
For Rush, Balu’s arrival represents an opportunity to connect elite sporting experience with grassroots participation. Her transition from tennis to pickleball also gives ShePlays an athlete narrative that reflects the changing pathways available to women in Indian sport.
Founded in 2015, Rush Sports operates across sports and recreation, creating opportunities for people to play, learn and connect while developing sporting infrastructure, communities and experiences.
