Aditya Khanna Elected GPF Asia Director Vows to Make Asia Pickleball Powerhouse

Aditya Khanna was chosen to join the Global Pickleball Federation board as Asia Continental Director on January 31, 2026, a move that ties regional momentum to global governance and the sport’s Olympic ambitions. Khanna said his immediate focus will be staging elite events across Asia and strengthening national federations so the continent shapes pickleball’s future.

Khanna told Pickleball Now, “I am proud to serve as a newly elected Board Member of the Global Pickleball Federation as the Asian Continent Director. It is an honour to represent Asia at the global level and work closely with the GPF to strengthen international collaboration and advance pickleball’s Olympic mission.” He added, “A key priority will be bringing world-class pickleball events to Asia and India and ensuring the continent plays a significant role in shaping the sport’s global future.” As Secretary of the Asian Pickleball Association, Khanna framed the ambition plainly: “As Secretary of the Asian Pickleball Association, our vision is to position Asia as a global powerhouse of pickleball.”

The appointment cements Khanna’s rapid rise from national builder to continental voice. The Global Pickleball Federation profile describes him as “a pioneering figure in Indian pickleball, serving as the CEO of the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA), the National Sports Federation for pickleball in India, and as the first Secretary of the Asian Pickleball Association, the continental federation of the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF).” He helped conceptualize and launch the Indian Pickleball League in December 2025, giving India a franchise-level competition platform months before his GPF selection.

Khanna brings a sports events resume beyond pickleball that strengthens his credibility to attract international tournaments. He is a former professional tennis player, currently captains the Indian 40+ Tennis Team, and is ranked among the top 10 in the world in ITF Masters. His experience as Tournament Director for Davis Cup ties including India vs Spain, staged “with Rafa Nadal,” and India vs Denmark, signals familiarity with high-profile logistics and stadium-level operations.

Strategically, Khanna has named India, Japan, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines as markets showing “rapid growth in participation and competitive standards.” He argues that hosting world-class events across those markets and deepening collaboration among national federations can lift Asia into a dominant competitive and commercial position. The move also aligns with commercial signals: Khanna is an entrepreneur with ties across textiles, real estate, and sports, and was an early partner in India’s Tennis Premier League.

On the GPF board, Khanna joins a roster that includes Manish Rao as Asia federation representative, US and international at-large members Mark Fabbro, Justin Maloof, Michael McDaid, and Ruth Rosenquist, with an at-large seat still open. His election is likely to accelerate calendar-building, where IPBL momentum could be parlayed into international stops and bidding conversations.

For players, organizers, and sponsors in Asia the immediate test will be delivery: translating the IPBL launch and Davis Cup operational know-how into transnational events, ranking points, and exposure that attract top pros. Khanna’s pledge to “bring world-class pickleball events to Asia and India” sets a clear expectation — the coming months should reveal whether Asia can serve up a circuit that keeps pace with North American and European calendars and advances pickleball’s Olympic trajectory.