Nepal to Host International Pickleball Extravaganza in March 2024

The Pickleball Association of Nepal has announced it will host the Nepal Open International Pickleball Tournament in March 2024.

According to a press statement from the association, 120 players will compete in the tournament, which will feature divisions based on skill level - beginner, intermediate and advanced. Players will also compete in four age categories - 19+ years, 35+ years, 50+ years and over 60.

The tournament will include international competitors from the USA, Spain, the UK, India and Thailand participating in men's and women's singles, doubles and mixed doubles matches across the skill levels. In total, 216 medals will be awarded.

The two-day tournament is scheduled for March 8th and 9th, 2024 at the National Tennis Complex in Satdobato. Those interested in participating can visit the Pickleball Association of Nepal's official website, www.pickleballnepal.com.np, to apply.

About Pickleball Game:

Pickleball is a pretty fun sport that's been getting more popular lately! It was invented back in 1965 by some dads in Washington who were trying to find a way to keep their families entertained and active.

The funny name? Well, there are a couple of different theories about that. One story is it came from the founders' dog named Pickle who would chase after the ball during their games!

So how do you play? Well, it's like a smaller, easier version of tennis. You play on a badminton-sized court with a net-like in tennis. The paddles you use are like oversized ping pong paddles made of wood or composite materials. And instead of a tennis ball, you hit a plastic wiffle-style ball back and forth over the net.

You can play singles but doubles is more common - two people on each side of the net per team. And you only score points on your serve, just like in tennis. Games go to 11 points and you have to win by 2.

The best part is it's way easier to learn than regular tennis, especially for us older folks! The smaller court, lighter paddle, and ball mean you don't have to run around as much. You can play indoors or outdoors too which is nice. It's huge these days with senior citizens in the U.S. and Canada but people of all ages can enjoy it.

Some key skills are getting your serve consistent, volleying well up at the net, hitting solid groundstrokes from the baseline, and avoiding mistakes by hitting into the net or out of bounds. But it’s pretty easy to pick up compared to other racquet sports.

So overall, pickleball mashes up several racquet sports into one fun recreational game with simple rules that anyone can play. And its popularity keeps rising!