Pickleball lands in Indian court: AIPA accuses IPA of misleading Sports Ministry for recognition

The Sports Ministry’s decision to grant National Sports Federation status to the IPA rather than the much older AIPA has led to a court battle. AIPA’s president explains the controversy in a conversation with Firstpost.

The sport of pickleball in India has found a new court – the Delhi High Court as the judicial body has asked the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) to explain their recent decision to grant national sports federation (NSF) status to the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) instead of the much older All India Pickleball Association (AIPA).

The IPA was recognised as India’s national federation for pickleball on 25 April by the Sports Ministry. The recognition gives IPA the exclusive rights to receive financial grants from the government, and autonomy to regulate, promote and develop the sport nationally.

AIPA has challenged the grounds on which IPA was afforded the recognition by the Indian Sports Ministry, when it’s only a “six-month-old” body, while they were established in 2007 and are currently present in 24 states through their state federations.

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