Why is Mumbai playing a game named after a dog in Washington?

Pickleball is the latest leisure sport to catch the Mumbaikar's fancy. Played like lawn tennis, but on a badminton court, it's a fun way for working professionals and students to beat stress

Pickleball is the latest leisure sport to catch the Mumbaikar's fancy. Played like lawn tennis, but on a badminton court, it's a fun way for working professionals and students to beat stress

A modest indoor court tucked away somewhere at Elphinstone, is the venue for a new sport that's capturing the fancy of Mumbaikars. Morning workout sessions at the gym suddenly feel mundane when you drop in to watch a session of this new racquet and ball game that's been christened Pickleball, thanks to its hybrid nature.
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A mish mash of lawn tennis, table tennis and badminton, it's a simple recreational activity that leaves you with a boost of energy, organisers claim.

The hybrid sport that can be played both, indoors and outdoors, but is best played on a court that's the size of a badminton court with the net kept just three feet off the ground. The rules follow those of badminton, but the style of play resembles tennis. The paddle is a racquet that's a slightly larger version of a table tennis racquet. "What's enjoyable is that Pickleball is not a power game. It's a leisure sport. It tests eye-hand coordination, and ends up providing you with plenty of exercise," says Kshitji Mahatre, a second year college student who we caught up with after a game.

The game is played in singles or doubles, and unlike tennis, service is underhand. "The game has been incorporated in the training regime of NCC students, and they seem to enjoy it since it's a light activity compared to their otherwise strenuous drills," says Sunil Valavalkar, coach at the All India Pickle Ball Association (AIPA). He hopes that other than school and college students who form a bulk of the current members, corporates give it a shot, considering "it's a great way to beat stress."

At: Training sessions are held every Sunday and alternate Saturdays from 2 pm to 4 pm at Kamgar Krira Bhavan, Elphinstone (W).
Rs 300 for 8 classes.
Call: Sunil Valavlkar on: 9820531733

The rules
They are similar to Badminton. You have to make sure the ball crosses over to your opponent's side and lands within or on the boundary line. Do your best to hit a shot that can't be returned. The first one to reach 11 points, with a difference of two, is the winner.

What's with the name?
The game was invented in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, a Congressman from Washington State. He named it after his dog, Pickles, a cocker spaniel, whose favourite plastic ball was used in the first few matches.u00a0