THE SPORTS GURUKUL (TSG) and the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA), the sport’s officially recognised National Sports Federation in India, have announced a strategic partnership to launch the inaugural National Inter-School Pickleball Championship.
The alliance marks a major step towards formalising pickleball within the school ecosystem, offering students a structured pathway to earn national recognition through official points and rankings.
Positioned as one of the country’s largest youth pickleball initiatives, the championship is expected to reach more than 500 educational institutions across over 20 major cities. By integrating the sport into school programmes, the IPA and TSG aim to build a talent pipeline capable of producing future international champions.
IPA president Suryaveersingh Bhullar said, “Our mission is to take Pickleball to every corner of India, starting with our schools. By providing students with official National Junior Points and certified officiating, we are not just hosting a tournament; we are building a professional foundation for the next generation of Indian athletes.”
TSG co-founder Jay Shah added, “The Sports Gurukul has always been at the forefront of grassroots sports development for the last 2 decades. Having organised many inter school competitions over the years we are very excited to partner with the IPA to bring another world-class sporting experience to schools across India. This championship will identify raw talent and provide them with the high-performance training necessary to excel on the global stage.”
