Mumbai: Absolute Sports Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of Nazara Technologies Limited and the parent company of Sportskeeda and Pro Football Network, has announced its foray into the fast-growing global sport of pickleball through the acquisition of the Mumbai franchise in the inaugural Indian Pickleball League (IPBL).
The franchise rights agreement has been executed with PWR Indian League and Tour Private Limited, organizers of the league and strategically backed by The Times Group, one of India’s largest media conglomerates.
Pickleball, a blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, has emerged as one of the fastest-growing sports worldwide. The global market is projected to expand from USD 1.5 billion in 2023 to USD 4.4 billion by 2033. In India, participation has surged 159% between 2019 and 2022, propelled by adoption across fitness clubs, residential communities, and sporting academies. The launch of the Indian Pickleball League is expected to accelerate this momentum, driving greater fan engagement and unlocking new commercial opportunities across media, merchandising, and grassroots development.
With exclusive rights to the Mumbai territory, Absolute Sports will build and operate the franchise, overseeing its digital identity, branding, website, social media presence, athlete marketing, and fan engagement initiatives. This move complements Absolute Sports’ mission to bridge digital fandom with on-ground sporting experiences and underscores its strategy of expanding into high-growth sports ecosystems.
Ajay Pratap Singh, Director & CEO of Absolute Sports, said, “Our mission at Absolute Sports is simple, be where the fans are. Pickleball is no longer an emerging trend. It’s a global movement and is rapidly becoming a lifestyle and competitive sport in India. Securing the Mumbai franchise allows us to deeply engage with this growing community and leverage our expertise in content, storytelling, and fandom to build a team that the city can rally behind. This investment is perfectly aligned with our strategy of targeting high-engagement sports assets.”
Vineet Jain, Managing Director, The Times Group, added, “We are delighted to welcome Nazara as the owners of the Mumbai franchise in the Indian Pickleball League. Nazara has been a pioneer in gaming and digital sports entertainment, and their entry into IPBL is yet another signal of the exciting future of this sport. With their innovation-driven mindset and deep understanding of young India, we believe they will play a transformative role in shaping the league, inspiring fans, and building a strong and passionate pickleball community in Mumbai. Together, we look forward to taking the sport to new heights and creating a league that India will be proud of.”
With the Asia-Pacific region projected to be the fastest-growing pickleball market through 2029, this move positions Absolute Sports—and by extension, Nazara Technologies—at the forefront of a rapidly scaling sports category, combining digital innovation with live sporting engagement to capture the next wave of India’s sports entertainment evolution.
