The Lucknow Leopards franchise announced its sponsorship of the Indian national pickleball team for the 2026 Pickleball World Cup.
This partnership marks a significant effort to elevate the profile of pickleball within India. By aligning a professional franchise with the national team, the organization aims to promote the sport's growth and visibility on a global stage.
As part of the announcement, the franchise unveiled the official Indian World Cup jersey. The sponsorship is intended to support the athletes as they prepare for the international competition. Shaleen Jain, representing the Lucknow Leopards, said the organization is "proud to associate ourselves with the World Cup."
The 2026 Pickleball World Cup is scheduled to take place from Aug. 30 to Sept. 6, 2026 [1]. The tournament will be hosted in Da Nang, Vietnam [2]. This global event serves as the primary objective for the national team's current training and preparation cycle.
In addition to the World Cup sponsorship, the franchise highlighted its own competitive events. The Lucknow Leopards Championship was previously held on Aug. 22–23, 2024 [3]. That specific event took place at Bennett University in India [4].
The move to sponsor the national team is designed to bridge the gap between regional franchise play and international competition. By providing resources and official branding, the Lucknow Leopards seek to foster a more professional environment for Indian pickleball players. The franchise intends to use this association to increase the sport's reach across different demographics in India before the team departs for Vietnam.
“"Proud to associate ourselves with the World Cup"”
The entry of an IPBL franchise as a national team sponsor indicates a maturing commercial ecosystem for pickleball in India. This transition from local tournaments to international sponsorship suggests that the sport is attracting the necessary private investment to compete with more established racket sports in the region.
