Key Highlights
- “As an administrator, my role now is to ensure that players from UP add value in IPBL as future participants and champions,” he added. Small-Town Success Stories from Uttar PradeshAddressing the question of nurturing talent from smaller towns, Prakash said the sporting landscape in the state has already evolved.
- “I believe the scenario has already changed in Uttar Pradesh,” he said.“Uttar Pradesh has given us players like Annu Rani from Meerut, Sudha Singh from Raebareli, and Parul Chaudhary from Meerut, who have competed and won medals at the Asian Games and Olympics," Prakash added. Pointing to the state’s potential in pickleball, Prakash drew attention to its contribution to Indian cricket."Cricketers like Suresh Raina, RP Singh, Praveen Kumar, and many other countless players coming from small towns of UP have been part of the Indian national cricket team,” he said. Prakash, however, admitted that the works need to be done.
- "There is a lot of work still to be done,” he said. Prakash stressed that preparing athletes for elite competition requires exposure rather than theory.
- “Mental resilience is not taught through lectures, it is built through exposure and repetition,” he said. Outlining the association’s approach for players from smaller towns, he added, “For players from smaller towns, we must increase competitive frequency, not just training hours and ensuring that by the time they reach a national podium, the ‘pressure’ feels like home.”About the Indian Pickleball League:The Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), launched by The Times Group, is India’s official and only national league for Pickleball, sanctioned by the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA), which is recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India. The inaugural edition played from December 1–7, 2025, at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall, Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, established Delhi as the epicentre of India’s next major sporting revolution.
- The event brought together top Indian and international players, franchise-owned city teams, and millions of fans through live and digital platforms. About Indian Pickleball Association:The Indian Pickleball Association is the official governing body for pickleball in India and is dedicated to promoting, developing, and organising the sport across the country.