Rakul Preet, Jackky Bhagnani Become Co-Owners of Hyderabad Superstars

Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani are teaming up with KLO Sports as co-owners of the Hyderabad Superstars in the World Pickleball League set to start from Mumbai.

Rakul Preet Singh at the onset of the league stated, “Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the world and is currently being played across age groups. Hyderabad Superstars will only further popularise and inspire players from Hyderabad and across the country to go after excellence. Joining the World Pickleball League is an exciting new chapter in my sports journey and I wish the team the best of luck.”

Jackky Bhagnani on becoming the co-owner of Hyderabad Superstars, added, “Hyderabad Superstars is all set to take over the World Pickleball League. Pickleball is without a doubt, one of the most popular sports across generations and we look forward to inspiring even more people to take up the sport.”

Hyderabad Superstars shall be coached by Jonny Andrews. Andrews hails from Pickleball experiences as he was involved with it since 2016 and he shall have an opportunity to guide a strong playing squad, besides the Indian pickleball player Kuldip Mahajan, and international players like Max Freeman, Ava Cavataio, Ross Whittaker, Madalina Grigoriu, Karolina Owczarek, Ben Cawston, and Ludovica Sciaky.

“We welcome Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani to the Hyderabad Superstars family and are confident that their presence will be inspirational to all. We believe that with our investment, we can help nurture local and upcoming talent while building a strong community of players and fans. Our aim extends beyond simply creating a competitive team; we want to foster an environment where everyone can come together to celebrate the sport.” said Srinath Chittoori, co-owner, KLO Sports.

“We at KLO Sports are thrilled to embark on this journey into the exciting world of pickleball alongside Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani. The World Pickleball League is a fantastic platform to elevate its popularity and discover exceptional talent across the country. Hyderabad, with its vibrant sporting culture, has embraced pickleball with enthusiasm, and we are honored to represent the city in this league, adding to its rich sporting legacy.” said Sanjay Jupudi, co-owner, KLO Sports.

KLO Sports, co-owned by the sportsmen Sanjay Jupudi and Srinath Chittoori, acquired the Hyderabad Franchise known as 'Hyderabad Superstars' a fortnight ago for the World Pickleball League. The WPBL which was co-founded by former tennis players Gaurav Natekar and Arati Ponnappa Natekar, is all set to host its inaugural season between 24 January and 2 February 2025.