Press Release

Basingstoke, United Kingdom, Feb. 18, 2025 – Hawk-Eye Innovations (“Hawk-Eye”), a Sony group company, has partnered with the World Pickleball League to enhance the inaugural season of the league with innovative technology aiming to enable consistent and speedy decision-making processes to facilitate fast-paced, entertaining games.

The World Pickleball League is India’s fastest-growing sports discipline and Pickleball was confirmed as the fastest-growing sport in America too for the fourth consecutive year in 2024. The first season of the league, held in Mumbai, CCI-Brabourne stadium, concluded on February 2nd.

Off the back of continuous innovation in tracking and officiating over the past two decades – with transformative deliveries in tennis, cricket, football, and American major sports – Hawk-Eye technology is now being used to ensure fair and accurate officiating in pickleball too. For the first time, the World Pickleball League enhanced the experience for players, officials, and fans, thanks to more precise line calls.

Segolene Stephenson, Head of Commercial, Growth Sports at Hawk-Eye Innovations, added, "At Hawk-Eye, we are committed to revolutionising sports with cutting-edge technology, and have been proud to partner with the World Pickleball League for their inaugural season. World Pickleball League is using the same innovative technology as VAR in football, we are honoured to work together with the league to enhance the accuracy and fairness of officiating in this rapidly growing sport."

Gaurav Natekar, CEO and Co-Founder of the World Pickleball League, said, “We are grateful to Hawk-Eye for choosing to partner with the World Pickleball League, marking a historic first for the sport. Their cutting-edge technology is set to transform the pickleball experience, enhancing accuracy, fairness, and engagement for players and fans alike. This collaboration isn’t just a milestone for our league – it’s a leap forward for the global pickleball community as we embrace innovation to shape the future of the sport.”

Conceptualised by former Indian tennis players Gaurav Natekar and Arati Ponnappa Natekar, the World Pickleball League introduces a timed format for its matches, with each game lasting 15 minutes. Each tie features five matches across different categories—men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Players have only 10 seconds between points, ensuring non-stop thrilling pickleball action while eliminating any chances of time-wasting.