Transforming sports culture in India with GoRally are two passionate founders, Sam and Abhinav, who left their corporate careers to bring a new wave of recreational sports to India.
Sam, an IIT Delhi and London Business School graduate, spent nine years in the UK working at Bain, Visa, and Cuemath. During that time, he played over 800 football pickup games and competed in county cricket. Abhinav, an Oxford and Delhi University alumnus, came from a venture capital background, having worked with Lightrock and Ventureast. He played tennis, participated in football leagues at Oxford, and even coached in Poland.
Our Vision: In the West, sports are a way of life – everyone has a sport. In India, only 0.4% of people play regularly. Our mission is to change this—to grow the recreational sporting pie and bring net new players into the fold.
Discovered pickleball, the world’s fastest-growing sport (played by 50M globally), and saw huge potential for it in India. Super inclusive and easy to learn (players can rally within 30 minutes), it’s the perfect vehicle to drive participation. In the US, it’s already the second-biggest recreational activity after running and cycling.
Creating Welcoming Spaces: Community is all about building connections. To attract new people to play sport, it’s equally important to redefine the experience by creating spaces that are inclusive, vibrant, and fun; everything from bright court colours, clean restrooms & changing rooms, welcoming cafes, lively music & plants create a vibe that enables not just athletes but anyone seeking a fun, active lifestyle. We hear that everything from VC deals to first dates happen at our courts!
Current Progress:
• Facilities: 4 courts live in Bangalore, expanding to 7 centers with 35 courts by year-end. We run coaching and have Karnataka’s top players onboard as coaches.
• Community & Events: Approx 4,000 players have played at our centers & events. We run Bangalore’s largest pickleball community with 2,000+ members.
• Future Plans: Scaling pan-India, integrating technology to grow our community, and exploring retail opportunities.
Scope for Pickleball in India
Massive Growth Potential: Pickleball is already thriving in India’s tier-2/3 cities, with multiple courts and academies emerging in Rajasthan and Gujarat within its first year here.
Why It Works:
• Affordability: Courts cost ₹3–4L to build, making them economical for schools, residential communities, and other venues.
• Versatility: Can be played by all ages and fitness levels.
• Scalability: Low barriers to entry and high inclusivity position pickleball as the next big thing in recreational sports.
Vision for India: With the right support, pickleball has the potential to become India’s second or third-largest recreational sport, engaging 10M players in the next five years.
