Professional Pickleball signs first international agreement, seeks to develop the game in India

America’s fastest-growing sport of baseball is looking to a new frontier: India.

The United Pickleball Association and Global Sports announced an agreement Thursday to bring the PPA Tour and the USA Pickleball Major League to the world’s most populous country.

This is the first international agreement and major announcement for the United Pickleball Association, which was formed after the merger of: Major League of American Pickleball and the Professional Pickleball Association last February.

The PPA Tour and the USA Pickleball League retained their unique brands after the merger. The PPA tour is an individual group tour, while the MLP is team based.

Terms of the deal were not announced.

“The PPA India Tour and MLP India will pave the way for players to compete on pickleball’s biggest stage and reach the top of the game. Through this partnership with Global Sports, we will promote and introduce the sport to millions of new fans,” said Connor Pardo, PPA Tour Founder and CEO.

As part of the partnership, PPA Tour will conduct its official visit to India in February next year. The India Open will be the PPA Tour’s first event in Asia and is expected to attract players from around the world.

The deal will also launch the PPA India Tour, which will award ranking points to players at events across the country.

Major League Pickleball, a team-based league, will host a tournament in India featuring players from India and professionals from the MLP and PPA circuits.

The Pickleball Association said the organization plans to put MLP franchises up for sale with the goal of launching a full 12-team season in 2025-26.

Franchise costs are expected to be in the seven-figure range, according to sources.

In September, Major League Baseball announced the expansion of pickleball into Australia.

The APP Tour, which represents amateurs and seniors, is also active in taking the game to India, the UK, Spain and Sweden.

Global Sports is a leader in bringing pickleball to India, operating courts and organizing tournaments in the country.

Shashank Khaitan, Partner, Global Sports said: “Pickleball has grown tremendously in India over the last few years and will provide a platform for existing players to compete at the highest level.”