Coming soon to Asia: Pickleball World Rankings, Series & Tour

Mumbai: Pickleball League Asia and The Times Group have collaborated to launch the Pickleball World Rankings (PWR), the PWR World Series and the PWR World Tour.

PWR plans to consolidate regional sports bodies into a single, unified structure to improve sports governance and ensure its future sustainability. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has been selected as the host region for the first PWR World Series in March 2025.

Pickleball, a worldwide sensation with celebrity fans like Bill Gates, Elon Musk and Taylor Swift, is the fastest-growing sport in the US and is widely believed to be on track to become the world's fastest-growing sport. "The Times Group is proud to be an anchor investor in PWR, a path-breaking initiative that unifies the global pickleball community. Times Group is known for its innovation and its ability to be ahead of the curve in every one of its initiatives," Times Group managing director Vineet Jain said.


"I personally believe that pickleball will overtake tennis in terms of participation in the near future. PWR is a platform that will empower players from every corner of the globe to compete, excel, and showcase their talents on an international stage," he said.

PWR founder and chief executive Pranav Kohli announced a $15 million prize money for the PWR World Tour and $1.5 million for the GCC stop of the PWR World Series. This is the highest prize money ever offered in the sport.

"Pickleball, originated from relatively humble beginnings in the backyards of America in the sixties, has now become one of the most exciting sports enjoyed by millions around the world," he added.