Times Group MD Vineet Jain cheers for players at PWR DUPR India Masters Final
New Delhi: Times Group Managing Director (MD) Vineet Jain hailed the success of PWR DUPR India Masters and exuded hope that pickleball will soon reach the Olympics. The four-day event was held at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) Stadium in the national capital and the Finale was held on Sunday, October 27. The finale drew an enthusiastic audience and featured top athletes from around the world, adding to the event's electrifying atmosphere.
Speaking about the growing popularity of pickleball, Vineet Jain said, "I am sure it will be adopted by the Olympics, but Olympics has certain rules, and once they meet all those criteria, I am sure it will be adopted in the Olympics."
"I think this PWR, India Masters 2024, has been a really big success because I have never seen 70 foreign players in one city in any sport. I mean, besides, of course, Asian Games and stuff like that. But in a normal sport. I don't think any sport, not even tennis, not even cricket, has got 70 players in one city at the same time. This is huge. We didn't expect this participation, and we have almost 700 other players participating. It's been a phenomenal success," he added.
When asked what inspired him to invest in the racquet sport, Vineet Jain said, he was confident that pickleball will be adopted by a lot of people in the coming times.
READ MORE: Grandfather Was ‘Sultan of Swing’, Grandson A Pickleball Phenom: Armaan Bhatia Honours Family’s Sporting Tradition At PWR DUPR India Masters | EXCLUSIVE
"It's a great sport. Actually, I happened to see a video on social media, and immediately I loved it. It was one of the videos where Pickleball was being played inside the New York Stock Exchange building. I was very inspired. I thought this sport is going to be adopted by a lot of people. I always go by my gut feel in business, and I invested in this company after that," he said, and quipped, "I put my money where my heart is." (double check this bit from video)
Nearly 750 players, including local and international players, showcased their talent at the mega event held in Delhi. The prestigious competition offered lucrative prize money to both seasoned professionals and rising stars.
What's Behind Pickleball's Growing Popularity?
"I think it's really going to pick up in India because the cost of building a court is very low, and all the states are building courts. I think the most successful state which has built the maximum number of courts is Gujarat. I believe there are 750 courts in Gujarat. They are at the forefront of the trend, and I hope other states also catch up. I put my money where my heart is. I've already built 10 courts in Bennett University. I think this is going to be really successful and it's going to be adopted by most Indians," the Times group MD said.
Rightly so, pickleball is rapidly gaining popularity, attracting players from all walks of life. From celebrities to business leaders, people are embracing the sport.
Speaking of the tournament, Armaan Bhatia won three titles - the Men's Singles, Mixed Doubles and Men's Doubles title to make it three in three. He paired with Roos van Reek to defeat George Wall/Danni Elle Townsend 11-5, 10-11, 11-1 in Mixed Doubles. He started the evening with an 8-11, 11-9, 11-8 win over Dusty Boyer. He then paired up with Harsh Mehta to defeat Roman Estareja /Mitchell Hargreaves 11-3, 11-2.
Armaan Bhatia will take home INR 40000 while Sofia Sewing will also get INR 40000 for winning the Women's Doubles title.
The PWR DUPR India Masters generated excitement for pickleball as a growing sport, offering players a platform to showcase their talents and earn valuable ranking points. Participants included top international players such as Dustin Boyer (United States), Phuc Huynh (United States), Roos Van Reek (Netherlands), Mitch Hargreaves (Australia), Emilia Schmidt (Australia), Pei Chuan Kao (Chinese Taipei), as well as leading Indian players like Armaan Bhatia and Aditya Ruhela.
As a PWR700 event, the tournament awarded players up to 700 ranking points, which are valid for 52 weeks, directly impacting their seeding and eligibility for future global competitions. The event also featured a thrilling PWR Battle of the Leagues—Minor League Pickleball, where teams of 2 men and 2 women competed across different categories.
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