The World Pickleball League (WPBL), India’s first and only franchise-based Pickleball competition, has announced a new team, Delhi Dillwale, owned by Smashers Sports, which is backed by Terra Invest and Ashok Amritraj’s Hyde Park Entertainment Group.
This strategic investment emphasises the convergence of global finance, sports innovation, and India’s growing interest in new sports, allowing the WPBL to transform the country’s sports entertainment scene.
Ashok Amritraj, a former Wimbledon tennis player and award-winning Hollywood producer, offers unparalleled experience to the project. With a decades-long career and global box office smashes worth more than USD 2 billion, Amritraj is well-known for combining sports, entertainment, and business. His leadership will shape the Delhi franchise’s future.
The WPBL, created by renowned sportsman and entrepreneur, Gaurav Natekar, has six competitive teams and is associated with the All India Pickleball Association (AIPA). Pickleball, one of the globe’s fastest-growing sports, is rapidly gaining popularity among urban residents and budding players in India’s tier 2 and 3 cities.
Ashok Amritraj, Founder of Hyde Park Entertainment, commented, “Having spent decades in sports and entertainment globally, I see tremendous potential for Pickleball in India. The WPBL offers a unique opportunity to combine competitive sports with entertainment-driven narratives that can engage audiences worldwide. Smashers Sports’ vision for the Delhi franchise aligns perfectly with this mission.”
Ankiti Bose, Partner at Terra Invest, said, “The sports media and entertainment sector in India is entering a golden age. With rising disposable incomes, AI-driven engagement platforms, and increased leisure time, this market is on the brink of exponential growth. We believe sports, enhanced by technology and entertainment, will play a transformative role in defining the next decade of India’s growth story.”
Private equity firms are transforming global sports ownership, with leagues like the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), and more benefiting from strategic investments. Terra Invest and Hyde Park Entertainment Group’s move reflects this trend, recognising sports as valuable assets with long-term potential.
Terra Invest, a worldwide investment business with offices in London, the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore, focuses on transformational investments in developing nations, particularly in new economy industries. Ashok Amritraj launched Hyde Park Entertainment Group, a worldwide entertainment industry leader that combines Hollywood knowledge with foreign narrative. Amritraj’s background as a sportsman and entertainment magnate uniquely positions Hyde Park to support sports-related companies.
In recent times, the league also announced Swiggy as the owner of the Mumbai franchise. Moreover, Riteish & Genelia Deshmukh, along with Sudhir and Sunanda Mehta from EKA Mobility and Pinnacle Industries, and educators Ajeenkya D Y Patil and Pooja Patil from Ajeenkya DY Patil University acquired the unit, Pune United.
