Dinkers Minda United win inaugural USHA CII-IWN Pickleball Invitational title

Dinkers Minda United made the inaugural USHA CII-IWN Pickleball Invitational feel like the start of something bigger, defeating Bajaj Capital in the final at REPPP in Mehrauli to lift the first title on offer. The championship match, played under lights, gave the evening a polished, showcase atmosphere and turned a debut amateur event into a statement about where corporate pickleball in India is headed.

The tournament was staged on April 26, 2026, with 12 corporate teams and about 70 to 72 participants competing in a mixed-team format. That mix of branded sides, business leaders and entrepreneurs gave the event a distinctly modern profile, more league-like than recreational, and it helped the final land with real competitive weight. For an inaugural field, it delivered the kind of structure sponsors and organizers want to see if they are trying to turn a one-off into a recurring circuit.

Usha International was announced as the title sponsor, and CII-IWN positioned the invitational as its first fundraising sporting initiative. The setup mattered as much as the result. A title sponsor, a mixed-team format and an evening final under lights all pushed the event beyond a simple social outing and into the kind of format that can sustain attention if it returns next year.

Ruchika Jain, chairperson of CII-IWN, framed that ambition directly, saying, “inclusive sports can help neutralize power dynamics and build team spirit and sportsmanship.” She also said, “We are delighted to welcome Usha International as the Title Sponsor of the CII-IWN Pickleball Invitational.” Those lines captured the intent behind the tournament: not just to crown a winner, but to use pickleball as a bridge across companies, roles and industries.

The broader backdrop is a sport that is still building its competitive identity in India, but doing so quickly. The Indian Pickleball Association, the government-recognized national governing body for the sport, has said pickleball in India grew 150% over the last two years. Against that backdrop, Dinkers Minda United’s victory over Bajaj Capital does more than settle a bracket. It gives the first USHA CII-IWN Invitational a credible champion and a clear benchmark for future editions that will be judged on scale, visibility and the quality of the competition under the lights.