Sony Sports activities Community has secured the tv broadcast rights of World Pickleball League (WPBL), India’s first franchise-based Pickleball League. Pickleball has been rising quickly in India, with extra folks taking part in and extra courts being constructed. Inside India, over 50,000 gamers in 2024 have picked up the game and the quantity continues to develop. There are actually almost 1,000 pickleball courts in India, with extra being added every month. With this partnership Sony Sports activities Community goals to assist the game attain a good bigger viewers base.
Conceptualised by Arjuna Awardee and former Indian tennis icon Gaurav Natekar alongside former India No. 1 Arati Ponnappa Natekar, the league is ready to make its debut on January 24, 2025 on Sony Sports activities Ten 2 channels.
Followers can look ahead to reside motion as six dynamic groups – Dilli Dillwale, Pune United, Mumbai Pickle Energy, Bengaluru Jawans, Chennai Tremendous Champs, and Hyderabad Superstars battle it out in a high-stakes, ten-day match that includes 18 video games with 48 high worldwide gamers from throughout 14 nations.
India’s high Pickleball expertise that features Vrushali Thakare, Mayur Patil, Vanshik Kapadia, Sonu Vishvakarma, Isha Lakhani, and Kuldip Mahajan, will convey their worldwide expertise to the WPBL courtroom, representing their respective franchises. The League may even present followers a possibility to witness a number of the world’s finest Pickleball stars together with William Sobek, Willy Ching, Max Freeman amongst others.
Rajesh Kaul, chief income officer – Distribution & Worldwide Enterprise and Head – Sports activities Enterprise, Sony Footage Networks India, mentioned, “Pickleball has skilled an incredible surge in reputation, not simply in India however globally. At Sony Sports activities Community, we’ve got at all times strived to convey the perfect and most various sporting content material to our viewers and the addition of the World Pickleball League affirms our endeavors. We’re excited to showcase the inaugural version of the World Pickleball League to our audiences and supply a platform that can assist broaden the attain of this dynamic sport.”
Gaurav Natekar, co-founder and CEO – World Pickleball League, added, “We’re delighted to have Sony Sports activities Community because the official broadcaster of the World Pickleball League. Sony Sports activities Community holds a particular place in my coronary heart, given my earlier associations with them. Their distinctive monitor file of fascinating audiences with their complete protection of sporting occasions throughout India and the globe is really commendable. The model has a deeper partnership with the World Pickleball League, and Sony Sports activities Community approaching board is a testomony to their dedication and belief within the World Pickleball League. Their skill to domesticate fan engagement and enthusiasm for numerous sports activities additional enhances the thrill as we close to the debut season.”
Written with the View : afaqs