What’s the Score?
In a landmark decision for the governance of Indian sports, the Delhi High Court has upheld the Central Government’s decision to recognise the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) as the official National Sports Federation (NSF) for pickleball. The court dismissed a challenge filed by the rival All India Pickleball Association (AIPA), ruling that the government’s decision was neither arbitrary nor unreasonable.
Hit it Deeper!
The legal battle centred on a petition by the AIPA, which argued that it had been overlooked despite having a longer history in the sport. The AIPA claimed it had been in existence since 2008 and had been actively promoting pickleball across India for over a decade. Their grievance was specific: they alleged that the Union Sports Ministry had violated the National Sports Development Code by granting recognition to the IPA, which they characterised as a “138-day-old organisation” at the time of the decision.
The AIPA contended that the IPA failed to meet specific criteria, such as the requirement for a three-year prior existence and the need to have 50% of district units affiliated with state units.
However, Justice Sachin Datta, delivering the judgment on February 2, 2026, rejected these arguments. The court clarified that the Sports Code is non-statutory and should not be interpreted as a rigid set of laws incapable of exceptions. Crucially, the court noted that “nascent and emerging sports” like pickleball cannot be held to the same legacy standards as established sports like cricket or hockey.
The ruling emphasised that while core governance principles—such as fair elections, age limits for office bearers, and financial transparency—are mandatory, the government has the discretion to relax other technical requirements to help a sport grow. The Ministry had exempted the IPA from the three-year rule after considering the “emerging nature” of the sport and the urgent need for a recognized body to manage its development.
With this recognition, which was formally granted in April 2025, the IPA retains its eligibility for financial grants from the Sports Ministry and the authority to regulate the sport nationally.
The World Pickleball Verdict
This judgment is a pivotal moment for pickleball in India, the world’s most populous nation. By validating the IPA, the Delhi High Court has effectively ended a period of administrative uncertainty that often plagues emerging sports.
The “Verdict” here goes beyond just one organisation winning over another; it is about the legitimacy of flexibility. The court’s observation that rigid legacy codes shouldn’t strangle new sports is a progressive stance. It acknowledges that pickleball is in a hyper-growth phase and requires immediate government support—funding, infrastructure, and regulation—which would be impossible if the federation had to wait years to tick administrative boxes.
For the global pickleball community, this is excellent news. A government-backed, well-funded Indian federation can accelerate the development of talent in a country that is already showing massive potential in the sport (evidenced by players like Phuc Huynh and the success of the Indian Pickleball League). The IPA now has a clear runway to standardise the sport across India without looking over its shoulder at legal challenges.