Pickleball Goes Global: From India’s 500 Courts to Spain’s National Circuit
Pickleball’s rapid rise isn’t confined to suburban parks in the U.S.—it’s becoming a global phenomenon. In both India and Spain, the sport’s growth is reshaping communities, reshuffling sports priorities, and laying new groundwork for international competition.
India: From Niche to Nationwide Movement
India’s pickleball story is one of explosive momentum. Just a few years ago, the country had around 500 courts and 50,000 players. Fast forward to today, and operational courts have exceeded 1,200, with 3–4 new courts opening every week across cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Surat (Medium, The CapTable).
This isn’t just infrastructure expansion—it’s a resurgence of interest. Active participation is estimated at around 60,000 players, and when casual players are included, total engagement could be nearing 100,000 (The CapTable). Pickleball is taking off not in spite of India’s entrenched sports scene, but alongside it—thanks to its social nature, accessibility, and low barrier to entry (Wikipedia).
The competitive scene is growing too. India is hosting major tournaments like the PWR DUPR India Masters, and gearing up for the World Pickleball Championship in Mumbai (Wikipedia). Meanwhile, the World Pickleball League and PWR DUPR India League are launching in 2025, promising a structured, franchise-style competition inspired by formats like the IPL (Wikipedia).
Spain: Building a National Identity
Meanwhile, in Spain, pickleball has leapt from trend to structured competition in record time. With 20,000 active players and Europe’s largest indoor hub—the Lafuente Pickleball Hub in Madrid—already in action, the country is making a strong case for the sport’s staying power (El País).
In 2025, Spain will launch its first official national circuit: the Pickle Pro Tour, backed by the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation, B3 Sportainment, and Cervezas Victoria (Cadena SER). The tour will span six to eight tournaments across iconic cities like Málaga, Madrid, and Barcelona (Cadena SER). To ensure fairness and structure, Spanish players will compete under the DUPR rating system, offering transparent rankings and match tracking (DUPR).
The circuit’s launch reflects a strategic vision: pickleball isn’t just a weekend distraction—it’s a competitive sport with strong institutional backing and appeal across all ages (Cadena SER).
What This Means for the Sport
The global expansion of pickleball demonstrates its universal appeal. In India, it’s catalyzing grassroots participation from schools to urban centers. In Spain, it’s cultivating sophisticated infrastructure and national-level competition.
Such growth sets the stage for future global events, international leagues, and—perhaps most compellingly—Olympic consideration. If pickleball continues its current trajectory, its transformation from a backyard game to a global sporting presence will be complete.
Pickleball’s rise in India and Spain marks a turning point for the sport. One country is building courts faster than players can keep up, while the other is rolling out a national circuit with pro backing and widespread visibility.
This global surge isn’t a fleeting trend—it’s the foundation of a new era. As both grassroots and professional support evolve, pickleball may well become the next truly global sport.
