HYDERABAD PICKLEBALL LEAGUE (HPL) has entered a thrilling stage, with competition intensifying among the eight participating franchises vying for a coveted playoff spot ahead of the season finale on 13 December. The event has so far drawn more than 1,000 spectators and seen rising celebrity participation week after week.
Since its launch in October, the league has constantly witnessed high level competition and a strong audience engagement. Leading the wave of star support, India’s top badminton duo Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy graced the event. Adding to the excitement, filmmaker Tharun Bhascker, six-time IPL champion and former cricketer Ambati Rayudu and actor Sushanth Anumolu attended the weekend fixtures reinforcing pickleball’s growing resonance across India’s sporting and entertainment circles, per the media release.
The HPL features men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles categories, bringing together established names and emerging players each week.
Centre Court Sport & Entertainment and HPL co-founder Yashwanth Biyyala said, “We’re thrilled to see how the Hyderabad Pickleball League has captured the city’s sporting spirit. The energy, the players, and the community response have exceeded our expectations. While pickleball has established itself as one of the fastest growing sports in India, the spectator turn out has certainly established it as a niche spectator sport with families coming and watching it. This is the true essence of a hyper local league.”
Rankireddy shared, “It’s great to see a sport like pickleball gaining so much momentum in Hyderabad. The energy here is incredible, you can feel the excitement both on and off the court. The HPL is doing a fantastic job of building that sporting culture and bringing people together through the league.”
Shetty added, “It was so much fun to watch the Hyderabad Pickleball League matches on Friday. The vibe was electrifying. I did not expect so many people to be turning up to watch pickleball. This really goes to show the popularity of the event and the sport.”
