Andhra Pickleball League launch announced, auction to be held today

Former Minister Sujay Krishna Ranga Rao announced on Wednesday the launch of the Andhra Pickleball League (APL) 2026, aiming to promote the sport in the State. The auction is scheduled to be held on Thursday.

Addressing a press conference in Visakhapatnam, Mr. Rao, who is also the chief patron of APL 2026, said that the league will be inaugurated on August 15, followed by fixtures on August 16, 22, and 23. The grand finale is scheduled to be held on September 20 in Visakhapatnam. The matches will be held in Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada, he said.

He said that the inaugural edition will feature eight teams, with several national and international players set to participate. Nearly 200 players have already registered for the competition. The league is also intended to provide financial incentives to players.

Each franchise will spend ₹11 lakh to acquire players during the auction, he said. Every team will comprise 11 players, including three women and eight men. A ‘Challenger League’ would also be organised for players who are not picked during the auction, so that no registered athlete is left without an opportunity to compete.

He stated that players from Andhra Pradesh, particularly those from Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and Guntur, have been performing well in national competitions and demonstrating immense potential.

“We are putting efforts to promote the game in Andhra Pradesh, and we want our players to excel further at the national and international levels,” he said, adding that bringing internationally acclaimed players to the State and facilitating exhibition matches would further popularise the sport and inspire young talent.