UWPF–GPF Unification, EPF Changes, CNPL Moves

Good morning, pickleballers.

Here's the latest pickleball news from the last 24 hours across the world!

Global Powerhouses Unite: UWPF and GPF Commit to Single Governing Body for Pickleball

Zurich, Switzerland – In a move set to profoundly impact the global trajectory of pickleball, the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF) and the United World Pickleball Federation (UWPF) have jointly announced a commitment to establish a single international governing entity. This landmark decision responds to the sport's rapid worldwide growth and the critical need for a unified structure to manage its global development.

The new entity is being designed as a fully democratic and inclusive body and will adhere to the standards of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This strategic alignment is considered a vital step toward securing pickleball's eventual place in major multi-sport competitions and providing much-needed certainty for continental and national federations worldwide.

To ensure a smooth transition, the boards of both federations have established a joint task force. This committee is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the negotiation and integration process, with primary objectives focused on efficiency, collaboration, and managing the development of a governing body that upholds the highest standards of international sports governance.

The task force includes representatives from both organisations. The UWPF's Unification Committee consists of Dr. Kelvin Yii, Ms. Rika Riordan, Mr. Seymour Rifkind, and Mr. Arvind Prabhoo. The GPF Board members involved include Ms. Jen Ramamurthy, Ms. Ruth Rosenquist, and Ms. Chandler Carney. The task force has already begun its critical work, holding its inaugural meeting on November 8, 2025, at 22:00 Central European Time (CET).

Leaders believe this consolidation will deliver immense benefits to the pickleball community by accelerating the sport's development, fostering greater investment, and creating a cohesive and sustainable pathway for pickleball’s future on the global stage.

European Pickleball Federation Announces New Open in 2026, Shifts Championships to Biennial Format

London, UK – The competitive landscape of European pickleball is undergoing a significant change following a recent announcement by the European Pickleball Federation (EPF). The Federation confirmed it will stage a brand-new European Open in 2026.

Simultaneously, the EPF is restructuring its flagship team event, the European Pickleball Championships (EPC). The Championships will now be held every two years rather than annually, with the next event scheduled for 2027.

The decision to transition the EPC to a biennial schedule was driven by a desire to improve the long-term sustainability and prestige of the event. According to the Federation’s statement, this shift is intended to "reduce costs, ease organiser workload and give federations more preparation time – while boosting the long-term prestige of the EPC".

While the announcements signal a clear strategic plan for major European competitions over the coming years, key specifics for both events remain under wraps. The EPF has yet to announce the venue or the exact dates for either the new 2026 European Open or the 2027 European Pickleball Championships.

The creation of the Open and the elevated status of the Championships come as the sport continues to see exponential growth globally. Fans and national federations eagerly await further details that will cement the European competition calendar for 2026 and beyond.

CNPL Draft Hysteria: Teams Trade Picks, Scramble to Complete C4 Rosters

Toronto, Canada – The Canadian National Pickleball League (CNPL) C4 offseason is heating up ahead of the crucial January 27 draft, the defining moment for final roster construction. With free agency concluded and rosters partially filled, every team must draft to reach six total players: three female and three open players.

The strategic complexity has already led to movement, with the Detroit-Windsor Drive and Northern Lights completing the first trade of the draft season. The Drive moved up two spots to land the Round 3, pick 6 (Pick #3), signalling they have a "specific target" in mind. The Drive, which recently signed Stevie Petropouleas (#6 player in 2025), is looking to complete its roster with one female and two open players. In exchange, the Northern Lights accumulated draft capital, receiving Round 4, pick 2 (5), Round 5, pick 2 (13), and Round 6, pick 2 (21), adding flexibility as they seek to build around Joel Pelletier and Danielle Boss. The Lights need balanced additions, specifically two female and two open players.

Five teams have locked in three players and need three more:

• London Smash (led by 2025 top performers Ryan Torresin, Jessica Kawamoto, and Anne-Sophie Courteau) needs two open players and one female player.
• Montreal Lions, the defending champions, need two female players and one open player, prioritising depth to complement Christina Chin and Ernesto Fajardo.
• The Southwestern Ontario Brewers and the Detroit-Windsor Drive both need one female and two open players.
• Toronto United needs two female players and one open player.

Meanwhile, three teams enter the draft with only two players signed, meaning they must build two-thirds of their roster in a single day. The Prairie Pronghorns, anchored by Antoaneta Toskova (#10) and Lucas Wong (#13), hold a significant advantage with the #1 and #4 overall picks. They, along with the Vancouver Owls and Northern Lights, require two female and two open players to remain competitive. The draft will determine which teams maximised their free agency decisions and how they navigated the crucial need for positional balance across doubles and mixed doubles formats.

JOOLA Sponsors Asia Pickleball Games 2025 Team Challenge in Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan – The Asia Pickleball Games 2025 is boosting its prestige after the Asia Federation of Pickleball (AFP) announced JOOLA as the official prize sponsor for the Team Challenge 19+ Division. JOOLA, recognised globally as a premier brand in the sport, will provide brand-new, top-range paddles to the champion team of the 19+ division, in addition to any prize money won. These high-performance paddles are the same ones currently used by the sport's top professionals.

The Asia Pickleball Games 2025 is scheduled to take place on December 13, 2025, at 2-2-22 Ariake, Koto-ku. This event is specifically a team challenge featuring three categories: Team Challenge 19+, Team Challenge 35+, and Team Challenge 50+.

Eligibility for the tournament is strict: participants must hold an Asian National ID, Permanent Resident ID, or a passport from an Asian country. Registration for the event began in July and will remain open until November 30, 2025.

Players from certain countries have dedicated contacts for registration:

• India: Nikhil Mathure – nikhil_grace@yahoo.co.in
• Japan: Rika Riordan – customer@pickleball-japan.org
• Korea: Jinmoo Heo – heoj@yonsei.ac.kr

Players from all other Asian countries can register via the official AFP website. Further details regarding the competition format and schedule are available in the official tournament handbook. The partnership with JOOLA underscores the AFP's commitment to delivering a world-class event and enhancing the rewards for top Asian pickleball talent.

Indian Media Giants Back Global Sports Pickleball League Launch in Mumbai

Mumbai, India – The upcoming Global Sports Pickleball League & Grand Slam is set to make a massive splash in India thanks to a massive influx of support from some of the nation’s most prominent media and broadcast brands. Global Sports Pickleball (GSPB) has sealed critical partnerships with The Times of India, Free Press Journal, Red FM, and Zee 5 ahead of the tournament’s launch.

The League and Grand Slam is scheduled for December 16–23, 2025, at the Andheri Sports Complex in Mumbai.

The partnerships are designed to ensure widespread visibility. Zee 5 was officially welcomed as the exclusive live-streaming partner, ensuring fans across India can stream all matches. Additionally, Zee Café and &flix will broadcast key league matches on television, significantly expanding the tournament's reach to a nationwide TV audience.

Hemal Jain, Chief of Pickleball Growth at GSPB, emphasised the impact of the broadcast deal, stating, "This partnership with ‘Z’ is a significant moment for pickleball in India... we are making pickleball accessible to millions of households".

Beyond broadcasting, Red FM will serve as the Official Radio Partner, tasked with providing on-air buzz and creating listener engagement. The Free Press Journal and The Times of India were named Official Media Partners, committed to delivering strong editorial visibility and country-wide promotional support.

Shashank Khaitan, Bollywood Writer, Producer, Director, and Co-Founder of GSPB, highlighted the ambition of the league: “The Global Sports Pickleball League & Grand Slam will set a new benchmark for how emerging sports are showcased, experienced, and celebrated in India”. With this level of multi-platform exposure, the GSPB’s inaugural event is poised to become one of India’s most-watched competitions this year.

New Report Reveals Avid Pickleballers Spend Big, Face Crowded Courts

Washington, D.C., USA – A groundbreaking report, the 2025 Pickleball Market Playbook, offers the first consumer-level data detailing the playing and spending habits of "core" pickleball participants in the U.S.. Conducted through a partnership between the Sports & Fitness Industry Association and DUPR, the study focused on the approximately 6 million "core" players—those highly engaged individuals out of the nearly 20 million who played pickleball in 2024.

The survey found that over 90% of respondents play at least twice a week, confirming they are avid participants who drive the sport's growth. Health is the overwhelming motivation, cited by nearly 94% of players as a key reason for participation, alongside the joy of the game and competition. These core players are also committed spenders, with more than 90% planning to maintain or increase their equipment spending in the coming year.

Analysing annual expenses, the report detailed significant individual costs:

• Facility fees topped the list, averaging $913 per year.
• Lessons averaged $688, and tournament fees averaged $517.
• Equipment spending exceeded $600 annually, including averages of $318 on paddles, $240 on court shoes, and $110 on balls.

Despite their commitment, players face significant barriers. The top challenge is court overcrowding, reported by 44.4% of players. Additionally, 39.2% struggle to find opponents of similar skill, emphasising the need for accurate ratings and level-based play. Scheduling conflicts affect 31.9% of participants. These findings provide crucial insights into how facility operators and equipment manufacturers can better serve the foundation of the sport.

Thailand’s Pickleball Scene Takes Centre Stage with Inaugural Siam Tournament

Pattaya, Thailand – Highlighting the emerging pickleball scene in Thailand, the Thailand Pickleball Association is set to host the Siam Pickleball Tournament 2025 Presented by Skechers. Running from December 12 to 14, 2025, the tournament will take place at the Greta Resort and Sport Club in Pattaya.

Supported by the global athletic apparel brand Skechers, the event is anticipated to be one of Thailand’s largest pickleball competitions, offering a comprehensive array of categories for diverse skill and age levels.

The tournament structure is extensive, featuring Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles across three main skill levels: Open, Advanced+, and Intermediate+. Age divisions within these categories range from 19+ up to 60+. Recognising the importance of developing youth talent, the Siam Tournament will also include dedicated junior categories for Boys and Girls Singles/Doubles and Junior Mixed Doubles for both Under-14 and Under-18 groups.

While medals will be awarded in the Advanced+ and Intermediate+ divisions, the Open categories offer cash prizes: the champion receives ฿5,000 baht, the runner-up receives ฿3,000, and the second runner-up receives ฿2,000.

Registration for the event is currently ongoing. The joining fee is ฿900 baht for the Open categories and ฿700 baht for the Advanced+ and Intermediate+ divisions. This competition provides a major platform for both established and rising players in Southeast Asia to compete and experience high-level pickleball.