'New Event, New Game for Country': Delhi CM Rekha Gupta Flags Off India's First Pickleball League

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday inaugurated the country's first Indian Pickleball League (IPBL) 2025 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, calling the new sporting initiative a proud moment for India's growing sports culture. She unveiled the IPBL trophy along with Times Group Managing Director Vineet Jain.Addressing the gathering, Gupta said pickleball marks a fresh addition to India's expanding sports landscape."IPBL, a new event and a new game for our country. Bharat has always been a country of sports," she said. "Indians have always shown a natural charm for learning and playing new games. Since the time Prime Minister Narendra Modi made sports a part of India's culture, people across the nation have become eager to participate

in every kind of sport," the CM said. Gupta praised the Times Group for not only organising the league but also establishing a full association dedicated to promoting pickleball. She extended her greetings on behalf of the Indian government and said efforts would be made to include pickleball in Delhi’s school-level activities, games and sporting events to ensure the sport takes root in the Capital.Further, in a post on X, the Chief Minister wrote, "The country's first Indian Pickleball League 2025 was launched today at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. This week-long event, held from December 1 to 7, 2025, at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall, will establish India’s first professional pickleball league on the national and international stage. Best wishes to all the teams and players."

The Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), launched by The Times Group and sanctioned by the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA), recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, is India's official and only national pickleball league. The inaugural edition, running from December 1–7, aims to position Delhi as the centre of what organisers describe as India’s next major sporting revolution.The competition will see six franchises, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Gurugram, battle for the title, featuring top Indian and international players and reaching millions through live and digital platforms.