World Pickleball Championship Nets A Roster Of Sponsors

We take a deep dive into the sponsors which have backed the recently concluded inaugural World Pickleball Championship at Mumbai’s Cricket Club of India (CCI). 

The tournament featuring around 650 players from India, Australia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Singapore and Poland, ran from November 12 to 17, had attracted a decent pool of sponsors.   

Sketchers served as the official kit partner, equipping players with stylish and functional attire while the Cricket Club of India, an iconic venue known for hosting major sports events, was the official venue partner. Franklin, a top sports equipment brand, was the tournament’s ball partner, ensuring players competed with high-quality gear.

The digital coverage of the event was powered by Amuzi Sports, a specialised sports development company and official digital broadcaster, so that fans from around the world can follow the action live.  

Meanwhile, India’s state-owned sports television channel DD Sports was the official broadcasting partner for the homegrown audience.  

Khelomore, an innovative platform for sports venue booking, was the official registration partner, having streamlined participant sign-ups. The International sports experiential learning program, IISM World, served as the official knowledge partner.

The Swedish automobile maker Volvo was the official automobile partner while District by Zomato, an experiential app by the brand, was the experience partner, curating exclusive dining experiences for players and attendees.

DCB Bank, a leading private sector bank in India, was the official banking partner, providing essential financial support. Additionally, Prabodhankar Thackeray Krida Sankul had also joined as an associate partner, contributing to the event’s success.

While ASN does not have specific data for pickleball, we can do a comparison with a similar niche racquet sport like squash, which had brought in US$8.7m since Q122, giving it a mere 0.1% share in the sport sponsorship landscape across Asia. With pickleball fast growing in the region, particularly China and India, it would be sport to look out for in the sponsorship landscape.