Early March this year Gujarat State Pickleball Association said Ahmedabad will be hosting World Pickleball Championship, in October 2024, in association with Indian Pickleball Association.
Around the same time the Times Group said it is collaborating with Pickleball Asia to start a pickleball tournament viz. Pickleball World Series.
Earlier this year (around end of January) All India Pickleball Association (AIPA) and Natekar Sports and Gaming announced they would be jointly conducting an all India pickleball tournament. It has to borne in mind that Indian Pickleball Association and All India Pickleball Association are two different entities.
This gives an idea of the growing popularity of pickleball in India. It appears the sport is popular in other countries too. Aroona Bhat of Gujarat State Pickleball Association says it is the fastest growing sport in the world. The popularity of the sport is attributed to the fact that it is easy to learn and less tiring. Some call it a multigenerational sport.
Currently this sport is being played in 21 states in India. Majority of the states have a registered pickleball association. Many of the associations are newly minted and have shown willingness to promote this game.
Uttar Pradesh Pickleball Association (UPA) on its website says, “UPA’s mission is to promote Pickleball throughout the entire state, with a primary focus on raising awareness in Noida and subsequently expanding to other districts in Uttar Pradesh.” According to UPA, this sport was first introduced in Noida by the residents of Prateek Laurel, Sector 120.
Goa Pickleball Association wants to make Goa the international pickleball hub. While Karnataka State Pickleball Association organised the first all India woman’s tournament in 2022. The list is endless.
A fabulous game The corporate world has also been drawn into this new sport. “A new game I’ve discovered and been playing over the last few months ‘pickleball’ – with elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis! It’s a fabulous game – great exercise, competitive and most importantly a lot of fun,” Harsh Goenka tweeted.
Without going into the details of how it came to India, suffice to say that this sport gathered momentum in India when the pandemic had gripped the world.
Pickleball is played on a level court with a short-handled paddle and a perforated hollow ball that is volleyed over a low net (it measures 3 feet). The sport is a mishmash of badminton, tennis and table tennis.
For singles a pickleball court will measure 44 feet in length and 20 feet in width. For a badminton court the length is the same but the width is 17 feet. A tennis court will be 78 feet in length and 27 feet in breadth. This game was invented in 1965 in the US.
The International Pickleball Association has 80 countries as its members and plans are afoot to include this game in the 2032 Olympics to be held in Brisbane.
Pickleball: a mishmash of badminton, tennis and table tennis
Inventing a sport
Pickleball was invented in the summer of 1965 by a group of neighbours on Bainbridge Island, Washington. The group included Washington state representative Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum. Looking for a game to play with their families but lacking a full set of badminton equipment, the neighbours created a new sport using an old badminton court, Ping-Pong paddles, and a Wiffle ball (a perforated ball used in a version of baseball). They lowered the badminton net to roughly the height of a tennis net and also modified the other equipment.
Soon the group formulated the basic rules for pickleball. According to one account, the name pickleball was suggested by Pritchard’s wife, Joan Pritchard. The mixing of elements and equipment from several different sports reminded her of a “pickle boat,” which is a boat made up of rowers from different crews who race together for fun at the end of a rowing competition. Another account claims that the sport took its name from the Pritchards’ dog Pickles, though the family has stated that the dog was named after the sport.
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CONFERENCES
Future of healthcare
The recently concluded eighth edition of the National Health Writers Influencers Convention (NHWIC) saw doctors, healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, legal experts, medical associations, corporates, healthcare writers and influencers from across India actively participate in discussing the current status of the healthcare industry, assorted issues and how media and industry might work together for the benefit of society. Heal Foundation organised the Convention under the technical guidance of the Department of Physiology, AIIMS, Delhi.
The first session started with the experts exploring innovative and collaborative ways to fight Tuberculosis (TB) in India. To address this challenge, India has launched the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), which aims to end TB by 2025. Dr (Prof) Rupak Singla, HOD of TB & Chest Disease, NITRD, highlighted the importance of early and accurate diagnosis of TB, the availability of new drug regimens, and the use of digital technology for TB management.
Dr Sanjay K Mattoo, Additional Deputy Director General, Central TB Division, NTEP, MoHFW GOI, gave an overview about the NTEP and its achievements and challenges. He said India has made significant progress in scaling up molecular diagnostics, providing the most advanced medicines, and implementing the largest digital program for TB surveillance and monitoring. He also mentioned the various collaborations and partnerships that the NTEP has forged with other ministries, such as labour, HRD, and railways, and with civil society and private sector organisations, to reach out to more TB patients and provide them with quality care and support. Dr Vijay Hadda, Additional Professor, Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, AIIMS New Delhi, focused on the social and environmental determinants of TB, such as poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition, and poor ventilation. The session was well received by the audience. The panellists also encouraged healthcare writers and influencers to spread awareness about TB.
Medical ethics The next session, on ‘Navigating Medical Ethics in the Current and Future Landscape’ featured eminent experts who shared their views and opinions on the ethical principles and challenges affecting clinical care practices in India. The panellists highlighted the need for following the National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines, which were issued in 2023 but have been kept in abeyance due to legal challenges. Krishna Sarma, Founder and Managing Partner, Corporate Law Group, said: “Medical ethics is a crucial and relevant topic in the current and future landscape of healthcare, as it affects the trust and relationship between doctors and patients, as well as the quality and safety of medical services. As a lawyer, I believe the NMC guidelines will help to prevent and resolve disputes and litigations that arise due to unethical or negligent medical practice, and will also promote a culture of transparency and responsibility in the healthcare sector.”
Dr Girish Tyagi, Registrar, Delhi Medical Council, and President-Elect of the Delhi Medical Association, urged doctors to read and adhere to the NMC guidelines meant to protect both doctors and patients from malpractice and negligence. He said: “The NMC guidelines are a comprehensive and updated set of rules and regulations that cover various aspects of medical practice, eligibility qualifications, registration of medical practitioners, licentiate examinations, and professional conduct. They also mandate the use of generic medicines, which can reduce the cost of treatment and increase the accessibility of drugs to the masses. The government should ensure that generic medicines are not substandard or counterfeit, as they can compromise treatment outcomes and increase the risk of drug resistance.”
Dr Sunil Khetarpal, Director, Association of Healthcare Providers (India) – AHPI, emphasised the need for informed consent from patients before any medical intervention. He said: “Informed consent is not only a legal requirement, but also a moral obligation. It ensures that patients are aware of the benefits and risks of the procedure and that they have the right to refuse or withdraw consent at any time. According to a study, 50 per cent of cases of surgeries happen due to lack of consent, which can lead to complications, litigation, and loss of trust.”
Dr Rajeev Gautam, Corporate Officer – HORIBA, Japan and President, HORIBA India, spoke about the role of innovation and technology in improving the diagnosis and management of various diseases. He said: “We need to leverage the latest technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and molecular diagnostics, to enhance the accuracy, speed, and affordability of testing. We also need to collaborate with the public and private sectors, as well as civil society, to ensure the accessibility and availability of these technologies to the masses.”
The NHWIC platform allows health writers and influencers to learn from experts and share their perspectives on various health issues. The session on navigating medical ethics was a stimulating and informative one, and highlighted the importance of ethical principles and guidelines in ensuring quality and trust in healthcare.
SM BOOTHEM
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