PWR and the National Pickleball League (NPL) have announced a groundbreaking partnership, designating NPL as the exclusive tournament and league provider for the Oceania region in 2025. This collaboration integrates NPL’s leagues and tournaments into the PWR structure, enabling NPL players to earn points toward their PWR ranking and qualify for the PWR World Series.

PWR is home to the newly established Pickleball World Rankings, the PWR World Tour, and the PWR World Series. As a unified global ranking system, PWR offers a clear pathway for pickleball players to earn ranking points through participation in regional events. Players accumulate points via the PWR World Tour, which will help them qualify for the prestigious PWR World Series.

NPL is Australia’s leading pickleball organization, overseeing the flagship Professional Teams League (NPL ProTour) and a professional tournament circuit. As PWR’s exclusive partner in Oceania, only NPL events will award PWR ranking points in the region, aiming to unify regional bodies under a global structure that supports the long-term growth and governance of the sport.

Details regarding the point structure for NPL Australia tournaments will be revealed later in 2024. All events will fall under PWR’s established categories: PWR50, PWR100, PWR200, PWR400, PWR700, PWR1000, and PWR2000.

PWR is a collaboration between The Times Group, a leader in news and entertainment in India, and Pickleball League Asia Private Limited. The PWR World Series and PWR World Tour were launched in Dubai in July 2024, with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) serving as the host region for the inaugural PWR World Series.

In addition, PWR recently announced the PWR DUPR Indian Tour & League, a grand pickleball tour and league for India. Former World No. 1 tennis player Andre Agassi will visit India in January 2025 to officially launch the PWR DUPR Indian Tour & League. The PWR DUPR India Masters, a PWR700 event, will be held in New Delhi from October 24-27, 2024, featuring an impressive roster of 750 players, both professional and amateur. This event marks a significant milestone for pickleball, enhancing its visibility in both the Indian and global sports arenas.

Ron Shell, CEO of NPL, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are thrilled to partner with PWR for 2025 and support their significant investment in the global pickleball ecosystem. PWR’s vision for the sport is incredibly exciting, providing our players with the opportunity to be part of a global movement while still enjoying regional competition. The introduction of a unified, international ranking pathway is exactly what has been missing. We look forward to delivering top-tier Oceania leagues and tournaments in 2025, helping players progress in their professional pickleball careers.”

Vineet Jain, Managing Director of The Times Group, emphasized the importance of the partnership, saying, “The vision of PWR is to unify the global pickleball community and drive the growth of pickleball in global markets. The partnership with NPL is a step in that direction, and we are excited to collaborate with them.”

Pranav Kohli, CEO of PWR, added, “Australia is a key market for the growth of PWR in the Oceania region. We’re excited to collaborate with Ron, David, and the entire NPL Australia team. This partnership is a major step in PWR’s global expansion.”