The Indian Open 2026 in Hyderabad has been officially sanctioned as a PWR 1000 event by the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA), marking a significant milestone for the sport in India. This partnership integrates India’s largest private pickleball tournament series into the national governance framework.
Published Date – 16 March 2026, 02:45 PM
Hyderabad: Indian Open 2026 organised by Global Sports will now be an Indian Pickleball Association sanctioned PWR 1000 event with the landmark alliance between IPA and Global Sports.
The Indian Open will be held from April 1 to 5 at the Crosscourts in Hyderabad with over 1,500 participants aiming for the prize pool of USD 50,000 across 56 categories.
This is the fourth edition of the Indian Open held by Global Sports and over a total of 4,000 pickleball players from across 19 countries have participated in the previous events across all categories. Getting sanctioned by IPA legitimises the structure that has been lacking in the Indian Pickleball ecosystem.
This alignment between Global Sports and Indian Pickleball Association integrates the nation’s largest private tournament series into the official national governance framework and marks the beginning of all future events held by Global Sports falling under the aegis of the Indian Pickleball Association.
The Indian Pickleball Association is the only official governing body of Pickleball in India since receiving its National Sports Federation status from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
“This partnership is a milestone for Indian sports. By bringing Global Sports into the IPA fold, we are ensuring that every volley played in the Indian Open contributes to a single, unified vision for the country. We are committed to providing our athletes with a world-class platform that is governed by the highest standards of integrity and excellence.” Said Suryaveersingh Bhullar, President, Indian Pickleball Association (IPA)
“At Global Sports, our mission has always been to build a robust infrastructure for Pickleball. Aligning with the IPA allows us to formalise our efforts and ensure our players receive the national recognition they deserve. The Global Sports Indian Open becoming a PWR 1000 event is just the beginning of a long and fruitful journey to make India a global hub for the sport,” said Shashank Khaitan, Co-Founder & Partner, Global Sports & Bollywood writer-director.
