Exploring Coimbatore’s growing pickleball craze

Easy to learn, tough to put down — pickleball is Coimbatore’s new go-to sport. Here is why it is drawing players of all ages.

Amidst the thwack of shuttlecocks and the thump of cricket balls a new sound echoes across the neighbourhoods of Coimbatore: the lively, distinct pop of a pickleball paddle meeting its plastic foe. From gated communities to newly minted indoor arenas, the city is warming up to the paddle sport.

Pickleball — a sport that fuses elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis — is fast becoming the racket sport of choice for many in the city. It is easy to pick up, affordable, and surprisingly addictive.

For 40-year-old paediatrician Dr Charanya Anbuselvan, the sport has become more than a hobby — it is a lifestyle. “I started playing pickleball two years ago, thanks to my sister. I recently won a tournament in Pattaya,” she says. “Tennis was hard to keep up with because of time and court access, and it demands more fitness. Pickleball is much more accessible — I even recommend it to my patients and their parents.”

Charanya plays regularly at an outdoor court, next to her clinic in Chinnavedampatti, which opened to the public in August 2024. Weekend slots are hard to come by now. “We’re also working on forming a pickleball association in Coimbatore,” she adds.

The sport’s charm lies in its simplicity — a smaller court than tennis, underhand serves, and a plastic ball with holes make for easy entry. Santhosh Punithavelu, a businessman, discovered pickleball through his brother in the US. “We used to play cricket, but that needs a group. Pickleball just needs four people for doubles. Now, I play regularly.”

Others echo the social connection of the game. Deepak Kumar, another recent convert, was introduced to the sport by fellow dads at his child’s school. “Now we’re all good friends. It’s not just about fitness — it builds real connections.”

That community spirit is what inspired entrepreneurs like Surender Vittel to bet on the sport. Along with Ashvin Kumar, Murugappan S, and Varun, he co-founded Neon Pickleball in Kalapatti, which became operational last November. “When we entered the sports space, pickleball stood out. We saw it booming in cities like Chennai and Bengaluru. So, we decided to bring it here,” he says.