Overview

• The Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) has been officially recognized as the national sports federation for pickleball by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on April 25, 2025.
• This recognition empowers IPA to govern, promote, and develop pickleball across India, with plans for grassroots programs, elite training centers, and international competitiveness.
• The All India Pickleball Association (AIPA), which introduced pickleball to India in 2007, opposes the decision, claiming it undermines their long-standing contributions to the sport.
• AIPA alleges the government relaxed key eligibility criteria under the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011, to recognize IPA, including a three-year minimum existence requirement.
• The dispute over the legitimacy of IPA's recognition could shape the sport's organizational framework and growth trajectory in India moving forward.