Pickleball in India: The game that gives life
ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE
Pickleball in India: The game that gives life
“ My reason for living is pickleball.” This is one of the first things Sunil Valavalkar tells me. Despite working full time as a director at GTL Ltd., India’ s largest network services provider, he is also the founder of AIPA, the All India Pickleball Association. Hearing about Sunil’ s endless passion for the sport is sure to inspire. Ever since he brought a handful of paddles from Canada to India in 2006 he’ s faced many naysayers and struggles in securing recognition for the game. Yet his determination has carved out a place for pickleball in India, and interest continues to grow today.
Health and Humble Beginnings Sunil’ s winding journey began back in 1999 when the sport first captured his interest. Sunil was heavily involved in social work and was selected to be Project Supervisor for an India-Canada Youth Exchange Program, where 20 boys and girls from India were paired up with children in Hope, BC( near Vancouver) for a homestay experience. During this time Sunil found a kindred spirit in one of the host family participants, Barry Mansfield. The way Sunil describes him, just about anyone would be a fan!
“ An extraordinary person: teacher by profession, versatile sportsman, wonderful cook, sailor by passion, a bible preacher, an innovative carpenter … I have a very lasting impression of Barry Mansfield in my life, and to this day I’ m in touch with him and his family.” It was Barry who introduced Sunil to pickleball, and they ended up playing every morning during the trip. Sunil felt it was an eye-opening experience, not only because he enjoyed the game, but because it reminded him of how he craved an active lifestyle. Back in his school days Sunil was quite athletic, participating in traditional Indian sports like kho-kho and kabaddi. During his years working for Vishwa Yuvak Kendra( International Youth Centre), Sunil was constantly traveling and had little time for games amid his busy schedule. As such, it was a surprise when he was diagnosed with high blood pressure one day. Thanks to Barry( and pickleball), Sunil was reminded of how important his health was and committed to getting fit again. It’ s a story many pickleball fans can relate to! Yet when Sunil returned to India he ended up focusing on tennis to improve his fitness. In fact, for 5 years Sunil focused solely on tennis, while pickleball remained a distant memory.
Dr. Sushil, that Sunil found his love for pickleball reignited. He had enrolled in a tennis clinic in Cincinnati when the instructor shouted,“ Sideways and swing!” which was exactly what Barry used to say while coaching Sunil in pickleball.
At that moment it struck him how many similarities there were between pickleball and tennis, yet pickleball had a lower barrier of entry. Sunil took a trip back to Hope, BC and bought several paddles and balls this time. In Feb 2007 he returned to Mumbai, figuring he would introduce pickleball to his family and friends.
Sunil started small( literally) by teaching his 10-year-old daughter, Ruta, and his niece, 8-year-old Abha, in the backyard of his apartment. Soon both of them were swinging away and enjoying the game despite their small stature!
Following this early success, the three picklers started visiting clubs and schools to give demonstrations. Despite only having 4 balls and 4 wooden paddles, it was enough to excite audiences and spurred Sunil to keep sharing the sport.
It was a shock that Sunil’ s first disappointment came from his own local tennis club. When he asked to hold a demonstration for pickleball on the courts he’ d played on for the past 8 years, Sunil was given a firm“ no” in response. At this point we asked Sunil about badminton’ s popularity in India and if those courts could be used for pickleball instead, but there was only more bad news. Sunil shared that cricket is the sport that sells, and badminton ranks well behind it and football.
Further complicating matters is the fact that most indoor badminton nets are fixed in place by machines, which make it difficult to lower them for pickleball. Sunil said there may be some potential to use outdoor badminton courts instead, but most of those courts use soft soil, which prevents balls from bouncing.
Making It Official These setbacks led Sunil to consider forming an official association to promote pickleball. If he had a stronger infrastructure, then it would be easier to get recognition from clubs, schools and businesses. Sunil was convinced pickleball had a pan-Indian appeal since it was“ simple
Sharing a Love of Pickleball to play yet had the potential to help millions of Indians It was during a trip to the U. S. to visit his brother, suffering from life style diseases.” Vol 1 | Issue 5-6 | Nov 16- Jan 17 99