'Foresee a bright future for pickleball': Swiggy CEO Rohit Kapoor

Mumbai Pickle Power co-owner Rohit Kapoor spoke about his experience till now, ahead of second edition of World Pickleball League.

Not too long ago, pickleball was an elitist sport played in just parts of the USA. However, its simplicity has taken the modern generation by storm. People from various walks of life have started indulging in the sport, which has rapidly gained strides across India and Asia.

The World Pickleball League was co-founded in 2024, by former tennis players Gaurav Natekar and Ashwini Ponnappa Natekar. Played at the Jio World Garden in Mumbai, it was an instant success.

As a result, the tournament is set to return in a grander fashion for the second season, with the increase in number of teams from six to seven and the presence of players from as many as seventeen countries.

Corporates, film stars and other sportspersons have been attracted by the sport too. One of them is Swiggy CEO Rohit Kapoor, the co-owner of Mumbai Pickle Power.

Recognizing it as a mass sport, he decided to join the revolution and clearly has no regrets. Sharing duties for handling the team is none other than cricketing icon Rishabh Pant, who knows a thing or two about top-flight sport.

Also Read: Karnataka announces Pickleball Nationals in Bengaluru

On the sidelines of the player draft for the upcoming addition, Rohit spoke to Khel Now about his experience in the competition, the growing popularity of the sport and his camaraderie with Pant. Here is how the conversation panned out:

The Pickleball league started last season. It is an interesting concept and gaining popularity all over the world. How did you make this decision to invest in the sport?

It was a simple decision. It is a mass sport- people around the country are playing it. While predominantly played in bigger cities now, it is really emerging in small towns too.

We felt it was a good way to connect with our consumers. Also, it is good to support a sport. We could have a partnership with an icon like Rishabh (Pant). When I went for the first time, my expectations were low. As it turns out, I found the contest so good that I could not leave the stadium.

The sport is new in India and growing very fast. But there are other popular sports too like cricket. So why specifically pickleball?

It is not a case of “only pickleball”. There are so many of us, we support different sports. I myself am a very big cricket fan. Rishabh himself is a cricket, but he is investing here. When something new comes up, everyone should come together and promote it.

Cricket of course has its own place. Hockey is the national sport, but cricket is the most popular sport. Worth noting though, pickleball is rapidly gaining popularity across the world.

Rishabh Pant is known to be smart with his tactics on field. How do you find him as a co-owner?

My experience with him has been very good. I had met him last year during the tournament. He is very down to earth and a good supporter. He connects with the youth very well. His achievements speak for themselves- he is my favorite cricketer.

Last season there was a lot of support. Fans are coming even for the tours this time. How do you view this?

There has been a lot of support for the sport, especially the local Mumbai team. I feel people are not only coming to watch the sport, but also eventually play it. It is growing in every locality. It is an easy sport- you can learn with just an hour of coaching.

Pickleball is a short sport, with not too many rules. Fans are really excited. What is your vision?

This is the second season. Last year, we had a good start. This time too, its going strong. Owners have come from so many cities. I personally feel that sports which are popular among the masses have their own momentum. So, I foresee a bright future for the sport.

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