Eight-time Grand Slam champion and former World No. 1 tennis player, Andre Agassi will flag off India's premier Pickleball league - the PWR DUPR India League - in Mumbai on December 13, 2024.

The league is set to take place in early 2025 and will be organised by Pickleball World Rankings (PWR). At the launch, Agassi will officially inaugurate PWR DUPR India League, which will not only bring some of the best global talent to India but also promises to nurture budding talent in the country.

The much-anticipated PWR DUPR India League comes after the successful completion of PWR DUPR India Masters, the largest-ever Pickleball event held in New Delhi, India, in October 2024 with more than 800 participants including the best of global and Indian Pickleball talent.

Agassi will address a press conference on December 13 in Mumbai and give further details apart from sharing his journey into Pickleball at the top tier. He will also play an exhibition match against ace Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna.

Vineet Jain, Managing Director of The Times Group said, “Pickleball is now the fastest growing sport in India and the world. The Times Group and Pickleball World Rankings are excited to bring The PWR DUPR India League, the first PWR1000 event to the Pickleball community. The event will feature some of the best global talent and Pickleball enthusiasts will be able to enjoy the sport. We are proud to be at the forefront of driving the growth of Pickleball in India and internationally, with this league and have many other activities in the pipeline. I am confident that India has the capacity to make it very big in global Pickleball --and hence, The Times Group and PWR are committed to its fast growth and development.”

Talking about the event, Pranav Kohli, CEO, Pickleball World Rankings, said, “We’re elated to bring the PWR DUPR India League to Mumbai, and we’re even more excited to have Andre Agassi launch this landmark event. The PWR DUPR India League aims to celebrate Pickleball, one of India’s fastest growing sports, seamlessly blending team play with competition and camaraderie. The league will not only serve as a platform to showcase some of the best Pickleball talent from across the globe but will also excite Pickleball enthusiasts as the teams battle it out to be crowned the ultimate champions.”

Earlier, at the launch of the new Pickleball World Rankings (PWR), the PWR World Series and the PWR World Tour in Dubai on 24 July 2024, tennis great Andre Agassi had shared the video message stating “Hello India! I heard you like Pickleball! I’m coming to India to play pickleball with you. I will be there to launch the PWR DUPR India Tour & League... See you soon!”

Ace tennis star Rohan Bopanna said, “I’m excited to see the love Pickleball is already receiving in India. It’s wonderful to see so much new talent, as well as a lot of seasoned racquet-sport players transition to Pickleball. I’m excited to play against Andre Agassi in Mumbai and I wish that the PWR DUPR India League will set a whole new standard in the sporting world.”

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