Indian Pickleball Association unveils World Cup jersey for Da Nang 2024
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) has unveiled the official jersey for the Indian national team ahead of the Pickleball World Cup in Da Nang, Vietnam, scheduled later this year. The launch ceremony brought together key stakeholders from across India's growing pickleball ecosystem, signalling a coordinated push toward international competition.
The Jersey Design and Its Symbolism
The new kit features a dominant blue palette, chosen to represent the vast and mighty sea — a metaphor for the team's strength and resilience. The Lucknow Leopards emblem on the jersey honours the franchise's active support for the national programme, linking domestic league identity with international ambition. The partnership, according to the IPA, reflects the franchise's commitment to nurturing both grassroots and professional pickleball in India.
Who Was at the Unveiling
The launch was attended by Aalap Sharma, Director of the Indian Pickleball Association; Ashish Khanna, Co-Founder of PWR; Dilip Mohanty of the IPA team; Nazneen Rehman from the Assam Pickleball Association; Shaleen Jain of the Lucknow Leopards; and Siddhant Jaita, Founder of Picklebay. The cross-state representation underscores how widely the sport has taken root across India.
What the President Said
Suryaveer Singh Bhullar, President of the Indian Pickleball Association, expressed confidence in the contingent: 'Indian Pickleball Association is extremely confident about the contingent that is all set to represent the country at the Pickleball World Cup. The junior team that was announced recently is a testament to that ideology, and the results that the team brought at the US Open are just a glimpse into what is possible at the World Cup. Indian Pickleball Association believes in year-round development of the current crop and is constantly scouting players who can perform for the country in the future. We wish the team the best of luck and look forward to a record-breaking World Cup.'
Squad Composition and Recent Performances
The junior squad comprises Arjun Singh, Aditya Singh, Naomi Amalsadiwala, Dev Shah, Purvansh Patel, Vivaan Patel, Ashritha Raju, and Diya Mattipati. Notably, Arjun Singh secured a triple crown at the US Open, with Aditya Singh and Panth Thakkar also delivering strong performances at the same event.
The Indian U14 Kids team is captained by Veer Shah and includes Viransh Chopra, Aarin Ballani, Mahika Rathod, Maansi Kartik, and Aashritaa S. The IPA Selection Committee finalised the national squad through a structured process that evaluates performance in IPA-sanctioned events.
What This Signals for Indian Pickleball
The jersey launch is more than ceremonial — it marks a maturing institutional structure around a sport that has expanded rapidly across Indian cities in recent years. With a junior squad already tested at international level and a franchise ecosystem beginning to back national ambitions, India's World Cup campaign in Da Nang will serve as a key benchmark for how far the sport has progressed domestically.