India, Aug. 6 -- This crossroads has defined almost every emerging sport. At first, popularity is enough. It fuels participation, dominates social media, attracts celebrities, and creates a sense that the sport is unstoppable. For a game as addictive as pickleball, that boom has been evident across India. But every emerging sport eventually reaches the same question: who pays for the coaches, national teams, infrastructure and grassroots programmes once the initial excitement settles?

Indian pickleball has not reached that saturation point yet. Yet the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) is already planning for what comes next. Its roadmap includes creating a sustainable pathway for players, introducing structured coach and referee educa...