HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Pickleball League, which made its launch announcement last month as an eight-franchise proposition, on Friday unveiled Olympic medallist and badminton legend Saina Nehwal as co-owner of the Keerthi Warriors team in HPL.
Conceptualised and founded by Centre Court Sports and Entertainment, HPL, which lays claim to being “India’s first city-based pickleball league”, is scheduled to debut its inaugural season on October 10.
This marks Nehwal’s first venture into team ownership, opening a new chapter in her journey as an athlete and mentor. Nehwal said her association with the Keerthi Warriors is driven by a desire to “nurture and grow pickleball at the grassroots level”.
“For me, sport has always been about inspiring people and creating pathways for young talent. Pickleball is at a stage today where badminton was many years ago, it has enormous potential to grow across India. Through the Hyderabad Pickleball League and Keerthi Warriors, I want to contribute to building the grassroots, create opportunities for children and youth, and help this sport reach every corner of the country. I am excited to help build a sporting culture in the city,” Nehwal said.
Keerthi Reddy from Keerthi Warriors, owned by Keerthi Estates, added: “Having a champion like Saina Nehwal join our team Keerthi Warriors is a landmark moment for the Hyderabad Pickleball League. Her journey in badminton perfectly reflects what we are trying to achieve in pickleball: nurturing the sport from the grassroots, providing platforms for young athletes, and making India a powerhouse. Saina’s involvement will give the team and the league credibility and inspire thousands to pick up pickleball.”
Vikrant Kandimalla from Centre Court Sports and Entertainment commented: “Having a champion like Saina Nehwal join the Keerthi Warriors is a landmark moment for the Hyderabad Pickleball League. Our vision with HPL is simple: to give the ones who make the time to play on non-descript courts at odd times where no one is there to watch them, a stage worthy of them, while making their friends, colleagues, family be a part of their limelight and success. The league brings together friends, families and acquaintances to a fairytale setting where for a change, the game is about them and their loved ones. It is a way to bring together the community through a sport which while looks easy to learn, is difficult to master. The Hyderabad Pickleball League is a grand pro style spectacle designed for the everyday common man aspiring to be the best they can be”
The HPL will feature eight franchise teams, with matches every Friday night from October 10 to November 28.
Under Saina Nehwal’s co-ownership, the Keerthi Warriors aim to combine sporting excellence with community impact, embodying the league’s vision of making pickleball a household sport in India.
