Overview
- Mumbai Smashers won the inaugural Indian Pickleball League in New Delhi, defeating Hyderabad Royals 5–1 after the Dec 1–7 competition at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall.
- Overseas recruits highlighted Indian players’ wristy backhand flicks and fast hands at the net, with coaches urging greater on-court aggression to unlock further gains.
- Hyderabad captain Megan Fudge delivered a defining golden-point 15–14 singles win during the event and was her team’s lone victor in the final with a 15–5 result.
- Players from India and abroad praised the league’s logistics, hospitality and production, calling IPBL a benchmark for future professional pickleball events.
- Growth indicators extended beyond India, with the UPA citing more than 60 million monthly players in China and top pros noting a sharp rise in youth participation.