India Pickleball Awards – Rules & Guidelines

Last Updated: October 2026

The India Pickleball Awards have been established to recognise achievement, contribution and impact across the Indian pickleball ecosystem.

These Rules & Guidelines govern nominations, submissions, evaluation and selection for the India Pickleball Awards (“Awards”). By submitting a nomination or participating in the Awards process, nominees and nominators agree to these rules.

1. Eligibility

The Awards are open to eligible individuals, organisations, brands, facilities, events and other entities that have contributed to pickleball in India, subject to the criteria of each award category.

Category-specific eligibility requirements may apply and will be stated alongside the relevant category.

The organisers reserve the right to determine whether a nomination meets the eligibility requirements of a particular category.

2. Eligibility Period

Unless otherwise specified for a particular category, achievements, performances, initiatives and contributions considered for the Awards must fall within the eligibility period announced for that edition.

Information from outside the eligibility period may be considered as supporting context but may not form the primary basis of evaluation.

3. Nominations

Nominations must be submitted through the official nomination process within the announced deadline.

Depending on the category, nominations may be submitted by:

• The individual or organisation being nominated
• A representative of the nominee
• Industry professionals or organisations
• Members of the pickleball community
• Other eligible nominators as specified by the organisers

Multiple nominations for the same nominee will not necessarily increase the likelihood of selection.

There is no advantage to submitting a nomination earlier within the nomination window, provided it is received before the applicable deadline.

4. Accuracy of Submissions

Nominators are responsible for ensuring that all information submitted is accurate, relevant and capable of being substantiated.

The organisers may request additional information, documentation or evidence to verify claims made in a nomination.

False, misleading, substantially exaggerated or unverifiable information may result in a nomination being rejected or disqualified.

5. Supporting Material

Where permitted, nominations may include supporting material such as:

• Performance records or rankings
• Tournament results
• Business or participation data
• Photographs and videos
• Media coverage
• Testimonials
• Case studies
• Links to relevant public information
• Other evidence relevant to the category

Supporting material should be directly relevant to the nomination. The organisers are not obligated to consider material submitted beyond prescribed limits or formats.

6. Award Categories

Each award category may have its own eligibility requirements and evaluation criteria.

The organisers reserve the right to:

• Add, modify or withdraw an award category
• Combine categories where appropriate
• Move a nomination to a more appropriate category
• Decline to present an award where submissions do not meet the required standard
• Introduce special recognition awards where appropriate

Any material changes affecting submitted nominations will be communicated where reasonably practicable.

7. Shortlisting

Eligible nominations may undergo an initial review before being presented to the Awards jury.

This process may include verification of eligibility, assessment against category requirements and validation of information provided.

Being nominated does not guarantee inclusion in the final shortlist.

Shortlisted nominees may be contacted for additional information before final evaluation.

8. Judging Process

Finalists and winners will be determined through the evaluation process established for the relevant award category.

The Awards may appoint an independent jury comprising individuals with relevant experience across sport, business, media, investment, administration and other areas connected with the pickleball ecosystem.

Judges will evaluate eligible nominations against the published criteria for the relevant category.

The composition of the jury may vary between categories.

9. Judging Criteria

Criteria will vary by award, but may include factors such as:

• Achievement and performance
• Demonstrable impact
• Contribution to the development of pickleball
• Innovation
• Leadership
• Scale and reach
• Consistency
• Community contribution
• Commercial or organisational impact
• Long-term contribution to the sport

Not every criterion will apply to every category. Category-specific criteria will take precedence.

10. Conflicts of Interest

Judges are expected to disclose any material professional, financial or personal relationship with a nominee that could reasonably create a conflict of interest.

Where an appropriate conflict is identified, the relevant judge may be required to abstain from evaluating or voting on that nomination.

The organisers may implement additional measures where necessary to protect the integrity of the judging process.

11. Jury Decisions

Decisions made through the official judging process are final.

The organisers and jury are not obligated to disclose individual judges' scores, votes, deliberations or comments.

A decision may be reviewed where the organisers identify a material factual error, eligibility issue, conflict of interest or previously undisclosed information that could materially affect the result.

12. Public Voting

Certain categories may include a public voting component.

Where public voting is used, the applicable voting process and the role of the public vote in determining the final result will be communicated for that category.

The organisers reserve the right to invalidate votes that appear to have resulted from manipulation, automated voting, fraudulent activity or other attempts to compromise the integrity of the voting process.

13. Verification

The organisers reserve the right to verify information provided in any nomination through publicly available information, relevant governing or sporting bodies, event organisers, references or supporting documentation.

Nominees may be asked to provide reasonable evidence supporting significant claims included in their nomination.

Failure to provide requested verification may affect eligibility.

14. Disqualification

A nomination may be disqualified where:

• Eligibility requirements are not met
• Material information is false or misleading
• Supporting documentation has been falsified
• The nomination infringes the rights of another party
• There has been an attempt to improperly influence the judging process
• Public voting has been manipulated
• The nominee or nominator materially breaches these Rules & Guidelines

Where relevant information emerges after an award has been announced, the organisers reserve the right to review the result and take appropriate action.

15. Use of Nominee Information

By participating in the Awards, nominees acknowledge that information submitted as part of their nomination may be used for the administration and promotion of the Awards.

Names, organisations, photographs, biographies, achievements and other relevant information relating to shortlisted nominees and winners may be published across the Awards website, event materials, social media, press communications and other promotional channels.

Confidential or commercially sensitive information should not be submitted unless specifically requested.

Personal data will otherwise be handled in accordance with the applicable Privacy Policy and Data Policy.

16. Intellectual Property

Nominators must have the right to submit any photographs, videos, logos, written materials or other intellectual property included with a nomination.

Ownership of submitted material remains with its respective owner.

By submitting such material, the nominator grants the Awards and its organisers permission to use it reasonably in connection with the administration, presentation and promotion of the Awards.

17. Attendance at the Awards

Shortlisting does not automatically include travel, accommodation, event access or other expenses unless expressly stated by the organisers.

Details regarding invitations, passes or attendance arrangements for finalists and winners will be communicated separately.

18. Awards and Recognition

Awards have no cash value unless a specific prize or benefit is expressly announced for a category.

Winners and finalists may refer to their official recognition in communications and marketing, provided the award title, category and year are represented accurately.

Official India Pickleball Awards logos, badges or other visual assets may be subject to separate usage guidelines.

19. Changes to the Awards

The organisers reserve the right to make reasonable changes to the Awards programme, categories, timelines, judging process or these Rules & Guidelines where necessary to maintain the effective and fair administration of the Awards.

Material changes will be communicated through the official Awards website or directly to affected participants where appropriate.

20. Organisers

The India Pickleball Awards are an initiative by Picklebay and Global Sports.

The organisers are responsible for administering the Awards process, including nominations, eligibility verification, jury coordination and the presentation of the Awards.

21. Acceptance of Rules

Submission of a nomination constitutes acceptance of these Rules & Guidelines and any category-specific requirements published by the India Pickleball Awards.

For questions regarding nominations, eligibility or the Awards process, please contact:

India Pickleball Awards

An initiative by Picklebay and Global Sports

Email: contact@indiapickleballsummit.com

Website: www.indiapickleballsummit.com