Q1. Could you start by giving us a brief overview of your professional background, particularly focusing on your expertise in the industry?

I lead operations and business development at Padel India and Pi Play, India’s first dedicated padel and pickleball tech and community platforms. Over the last several years, I’ve been at the forefront of building racket-sport infrastructure, launching clubs across multiple cities, and scaling adoption through leagues, partnerships, and digital engagement.

My expertise lies in three areas:

Club Development & Operations: Designing and managing scalable padel and pickleball facilities with standardized SOPs.

Technology for Sports: Building Pi Play, a booking and engagement platform that connects players, clubs, and coaches.

Community & Commercialization: Growing grassroots adoption through leagues, events, and partnerships with global brands such as Adidas.

 

Q2. How are niche sports like Pickleball and Padel evolving around India and Southeast Asia, and what infrastructure models are proving most scalable?

Both sports are experiencing early but rapid adoption. Pickleball has gained momentum in India through community-driven initiatives and corporate interest, while padel is expanding through organized club investments. In Southeast Asia, Thailand and Singapore are setting the pace, driven by expat communities and premium fitness clubs.

The most scalable infrastructure model combines:

• Multi-sport venues (padel + pickleball + fitness amenities) that diversify revenues

• Revenue-share management models (70:30 or 60:40 splits), where tech-driven operators run the clubs for asset owners

• Lean OPEX structures with standardized SOPs, reducing dependency on star coaches

This hybrid of asset-light management + tech-enabled booking is proving to be the fastest way to scale.

 

Q3. Which cities or regions are showing the fastest adoption, and how are demographics influencing traction?

India: Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi NCR are leading the adoption. Young professionals and expats with higher disposable incomes are driving weekday play, while families and older adults are joining through weekend sessions.

Southeast Asia: Bangkok, Manila, and Singapore are hotspots, benefiting from strong corporate wellness cultures.

Demographics are key:

Age: 25–40-year-olds are the fastest adopters, with strong interest from those aged 40 and above seeking lower-impact alternatives to tennis.

Income & Fitness Culture: Urban middle- to upper-income groups with exposure to global sports trends are the primary audience.

 

Q4. How are pro Pickleball and Padel leagues shaping up globally, and what is their commercial potential in emerging markets like India?

Globally, both sports are transitioning from grassroots growth to semi-professional leagues:

Pickleball: Major League Pickleball (MLP) in the US has attracted notable investors, including LeBron James, Mark Cuban, and Tom Brady.

Padel: The World Padel Tour and Premier Padel are merging into a unified global circuit backed by Qatar Sports Investments.

In India, commercial potential is significant because:

• Brands are eager for first-mover advantage in the world’s fastest-growing racket sports

• Leagues can attract corporate sponsorships, wellness budgets, and lifestyle partnerships

• With the right format, India could mirror the success of IPL in cricket — shorter, spectator-friendly matches appealing to younger audiences

 

Q5. Which tech innovations are seeing early traction among Pickleball/Padel startups?

Booking & Club Management Platforms (like Pi Play): Making access frictionless and enabling revenue tracking.

AI-powered analytics & cameras: Auto-recording matches, highlighting statistics, and enabling social sharing.

Smart courts: LED line systems, automated scoring, and player performance tracking.

Community gamification: apps that rank players, issue digital rewards, and facilitate matchmaking.

 

Q6. How are startups using XR or gamification to improve coaching or casual play engagement?

Startups are experimenting with:

XR-based coaching modules: Blending VR/AR with live drills to help beginners understand court positioning and shot mechanics.

Gamified match formats: Point multipliers, king-of-court rotations, and app-based leaderboards that make casual play more social and sticky.

Immersive broadcast tech: Using AR overlays to make league matches more engaging for audiences and sponsors.

These tools are especially valuable for younger players and casual participants who prefer experience-driven engagement over traditional coaching.

 

Q7. If you were an investor looking at companies within the space, what critical question would you pose to their senior management

The critical question is:

How are you balancing community growth with monetization — and is your model asset-light enough to scale across multiple geographies?

This matters because early adoption depends on creating thriving player communities, but long-term success depends on sustainable unit economics. I would probe how startups plan to scale clubs, leverage tech, and diversify revenues (bookings, coaching, events, retail, sponsorships) without burning capital.