Organised by the Karnataka Pickleball Association (KPA) and sanctioned by the IPA, the National Sports Federation for pickleball, the championship marks a historic milestone as India's first-ever PWR2000 World Ranking Event.

Among the key participants is Visakh VS, Secretary of the Pickleball Association of Kerala (PBAK) and a former tennis player, who is leading Kerala's contingent from the front. Speaking exclusively to Pickleball Now, Visakh shared his optimism about the team's prospects.

"We have a huge contingent participating in the 5th IPA Nationals. We have players ranging from under 14 to 50 and above. I am pretty confident with the team here and pleased with the way our Kerala team has performed in the last tournaments," said Visakh.

Kerala, traditionally known for its passion for football and athletics, is now emerging as a significant hub for pickleball in South India. According to Visakh, the state association has been proactive in nurturing talent and expanding the sport's reach.

"In the last three months alone, we have done three PWR, Pickleball World Ranking events. We have held tournaments in Cochin and Thiruvananthapuram, in addition to conducting the Kerala State Championship and state trials. Some around 100-plus players participated in these events," he said.

Visakh attributes pickleball's growing popularity to Kerala's existing sports culture, particularly its large community of badminton and tennis enthusiasts.

"Kerala is predominantly known for football and athletics and many other Olympic sports, but recently I have seen a surge of playing pickleball in Kerala," he added. "Kerala has a good culture for badminton, and a lot of badminton and tennis players are now getting converted to pickleball. I'm a tennis convert myself, so pickleball came naturally to me."

As pickleball continues to gain ground, Kerala's strong showing at the IPA Nationals could serve as a launchpad for greater recognition and development of the sport in the state.

About Indian Pickleball Association:
The Indian Pickleball Association is the official governing body for pickleball in India and is dedicated to promoting, developing, and organising the sport across the country. The association continues to inspire players of all ages and skill levels to embrace the game through events like the IPA Nationals. IPA is affiliated with the Asian Pickleball Association (APA) and the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF).

About Pickleball World Ranking:
PWR is a national ranking system that spans all age groups, skill divisions, and formats -including singles, doubles, and mixed categories. It serves as the official National Sports Federation Ranking for India. With multiple sanctioned events taking place every week across the country, PWR defines the top Indian players at every level and forms the foundation for team selection at the school, district, state, and national stages.

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