📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Original: Vyacheslav Argenberg
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Sports
Goa's Official Pickleball League Switches to Plywood Paddles as Sport Surges
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 03 Sep 2026, 12:48 AM
👁 3
A newly formed official pickleball league in Goa has introduced plywood paddles, underscoring the sport's rapid growth in the state.
Goa's sports community has taken a notable step by launching an official pickleball league that now mandates the use of plywood paddles. The decision reflects the sport's swift uptake among local enthusiasts, who have embraced pickleball as a low‑cost, socially engaging activity.
Organisers of the league said the shift to plywood equipment aims to keep participation affordable while maintaining competitive standards. The league, which brings together clubs from across the state, will run a series of matches in the coming weeks, offering players a structured platform to hone their skills.
Pickleball, a hybrid of tennis, badminton and table tennis, has seen a surge in interest across India, and Goa's coastal venues provide an ideal setting for outdoor play. The adoption of inexpensive paddles is expected to attract newcomers and sustain the sport's momentum in the region.
Stakeholders anticipate that the league will boost tourism and local business, as spectators and participants travel to attend matches. The initiative also aligns with broader efforts to diversify Goa's sporting portfolio beyond its traditional beach and water‑sport offerings.
The league's inaugural season is set to commence later this month, marking a milestone in the formalisation of pickleball within Goa's athletic landscape.
Organisers of the league said the shift to plywood equipment aims to keep participation affordable while maintaining competitive standards. The league, which brings together clubs from across the state, will run a series of matches in the coming weeks, offering players a structured platform to hone their skills.
Pickleball, a hybrid of tennis, badminton and table tennis, has seen a surge in interest across India, and Goa's coastal venues provide an ideal setting for outdoor play. The adoption of inexpensive paddles is expected to attract newcomers and sustain the sport's momentum in the region.
Stakeholders anticipate that the league will boost tourism and local business, as spectators and participants travel to attend matches. The initiative also aligns with broader efforts to diversify Goa's sporting portfolio beyond its traditional beach and water‑sport offerings.
The league's inaugural season is set to commence later this month, marking a milestone in the formalisation of pickleball within Goa's athletic landscape.