Absolute Sports, a subsidiary of Nazara Technologies and the parent company of Sportskeeda and Pro Football Network, has officially entered the fast-growing global sport of pickleball with the acquisition of the Mumbai franchise in the inaugural Indian Pickleball League (IPBL).
The franchise rights agreement has been signed with PWR Indian League and Tour Private Limited, the organisers of IPBL, which is strategically backed by The Times Group, one of India’s largest media networks.
Pickleball is among the world’s fastest-growing sports, with the global market expected to surge from $1.5 billion in 2023 to $4.4 billion by 2033. In India, participation has grown 159% between 2019 and 2022, fuelled by adoption across fitness centres, recreational clubs, and sporting communities.
The Indian Pickleball League aims to bring the sport into mainstream fan culture and unlock opportunities across media, merchandising, sponsorships, and grassroots engagement.
With exclusive rights to the Mumbai territory, Absolute Sports will manage and scale every aspect of the franchise — including branding, digital identity, website, social platforms, athlete marketing, community engagement, and fan development initiatives.
This move strengthens the company’s strategy of integrating digital fandom with on-ground sporting ecosystems and expanding into new high-growth sports categories.
Ajay Pratap Singh, Director & CEO, 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 acquisition positions Absolute Sports — and Nazara Technologies — at the forefront of a rapidly expanding sporting category in India and beyond.
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