Pickleball is the latest phenomenon in the world of sports. This modern variant of racquet sports - combining elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis - has steadily become the go-to sport for urban dwellers seeking recreation, fitness, and fun.

Hyderabad, the fulcrum of Indian badminton, has been swept up in the pickleball fever. The city, home to India’s most acclaimed badminton facility - the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy, which has produced several star shuttlers including Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu - has now discovered a new passion in the form of pickleball.

As the craze for the sport spreads across Telangana’s capital, international tournaments and local competitions are breaking new ground. Hyderabad is quickly evolving into one of the most active and promising hubs for pickleball in the country.

The city has been among the key regions in India where pickleball has made significant strides in recent years and showed immense potential. While badminton continues to dominate as the city’s premier racquet sport, pickleball is rapidly gaining traction, especially among working professionals and children. The sport’s self-regulatory nature, coupled with minimal training requirements, has made it both accessible and appealing. Budding players can begin without the immediate need for coaches, making it an easy entry point into racquet sports.

As the player pool grows, so does the demand for dedicated courts. Currently, Hyderabad hosts ten pickleball clubs and facilities, strategically located across the city - and the chances for further growth is high.

Among the localities driving this new wave, Kondapur stands out as the most vibrant hub, with four active clubs. Other major facilities include Paddle Park in Jubilee Hills, Pickleball Arena in Bachupally, Pickleball Bay in Miyapur, JS Sports Arena in Madinaguda, AONE Sports and Pickleball Facility in Beeramguda, and Olympia Zone 3.O in Hafeezpet. The sport has even created job opportunities, with Hudle, India’s leading sports-tech platform, emerging as the preferred application for booking the courts.

While private initiatives remain at the forefront of Hyderabad's pickleball buzz, the institutional push is not far behind. In Kukatpally, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) transformed a dumping yard into a sports hub - including a pickleball court - as early as 2020. Most recently, the SVP National Police Academy launched four dedicated pickleball courts, exclusively for IPS probationers and in-service course participants.

The craze has spread beyond the city’s periphery as well, with tournaments springing up in the suburbs. For instance, AVK Academy hosted a pickleball championship in Alwal, a suburb of Hyderabad.

Tapping into the growing popularity of pickleball - known for its abundance of health benefits - real estate developers in the city have also started incorporating dedicated pickleball courts into residential communities.

While pickleball has not threatened badminton’s dominance - and still remains an amateur sport with professional aspirations - it has undeniably carved out its own space. Thriving alongside badminton, pickleball is contributing to a vibrant racquet sports culture that further cements Hyderabad’s status as India’s racquet sports capital.

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