Report: Kathmandu Sees ‘Surprisingly Fast’ Pickleball Growth Despite Challenges – Pickleball News Asia
The growth of pickleball in Asia has been nothing short of remarkable. What makes it even more impre
According to The Kathmandu Post, the sport is “gaining traction” in Kathmandu, the capital and largest city of Nepal. The Kathmandu Post noted that pickleball was introduced to Nepal a few years ago “by a group of enthusiasts who learnt about it during their travels abroad.” However, the sport did not necessarily catch on quickly.
In fact, the Pickleball Association Nepal told The Kathmandu Post that they initially had only two portable nets and a handful of paddles for “a few friendly games.”
Now, according to The Kathmandu Post, there are already over 30 courts in the capital city, and those few games once enjoyed by a handful of players have piqued the interest of a growing number of participants across age groups and skill levels.
“The growth has been surprisingly fast. Just a few years ago, very few people had even heard of pickleball. We now see players from different age groups joining regularly, courts being built, and structured training sessions underway,” The Kathmandu Post wrote. “What started as curiosity has turned into consistent participation, especially in urban areas.”
One reason pickleball has caught on in Nepal, particularly in Kathmandu, is that the court’s size, which is much smaller relative to the courts of, say, basketball, football, or volleyball. In short, pickleball courts make perfect sense for a small country like Nepal and are a great fit for limited urban spaces such as Kathmandu. That pickleball can be played either indoors or outdoors adds to the sport’s appeal, as it is a perfect exercise in winter, according to the respected publication.
Of course, this impressive growth is not without challenges. The Kathmandu Post identified infrastructure as among the most pressing challenges, along with the need to create structured programmes that could elevate the sport’s profile while still keeping it accessible.
But challenges aside, The Kathmandu Post gave pickleball a vote of confidence: the enthusiasm of Kathmandu’s players will make addressing these challenges all worthwhile.
