The inaugural UPA Independence Cup pickleball tournament, organized by the Universal Pickleball Association (UPA), took place at the new Pickleplay venue in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, drawing over 100 participants across 11 age categories from under-14 to 60-plus. The event featured 150 matches and awarded cash prizes totaling Rs 66,000. Notable winners included Prabhat Mani Vats, who was named Player of the Tournament with multiple medals, and 18-year-old Om Pawar, who secured three medals including gold in the Open Men’s Singles. The tournament highlighted pickleball’s inclusivity, with players over 60 years old also competing and winning medals.
The event was supported by local political figures like Mahesh Chauhan, President of BJP’s Noida City unit, who expressed commitment to promoting pickleball as a fitness activity aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a developed India. Established in October 2022, the UPA aims to grow pickleball across Uttar Pradesh, and the successful tournament demonstrated the sport’s rapid growth and appeal among diverse age groups in the region.
