The city of Chennai is all set to witness an exciting sporting and cultural extravaganza as the Rise Up Championship (RUC) Foundation presents Pickleball By The Bay and Music Festival- India’s first international pickleball tournament held by the sea, set against the beautiful backdrop of the VGP Golden Beach Resort. Scheduled for September 26, 27, and 28, 2025, the event promises to provide a unique experience which is a blend of entertainment, sports and lifestyle.
The three-day tournament and festival is being held in association with the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA), Tamil Nadu Pickleball Association (TNPA), Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR) and Pickleball World Ranking (PWR), making it India’s first PWR 1000 sanctioned tournament. The event will feature top athletes from across the country and beyond, competing in five high-energy categories: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles.
With a generous prize pool of ₹25 lakhs for the winners, the stakes are high and the competition fierce.
“Pickleball is a fast-paced, fun and highly engaging sport. By bringing it to the beach and surrounding it with live music and food, we’re taking the sport to an entirely new level, creating an unforgettable blend of athleticism, entertainment, and lifestyle,” says Selvakumar Baalu, Founder of RUC Foundation.
The Rise Up Championship Foundation
With a vision beyond sport, the RUC Foundation was launched earlier this year through the RUC Sports Film Festival, held on September 3 and 4, 2025, at AGS Cinemas, Chennai. The event featured iconic sports films in English and Tamil and was graced by sports and entertainment luminaries, including India’s first Formula 1 driver Narain Karthikeyan, who unveiled the official RUC jersey.
Founded by a team with deep roots in sports, cinema, and business, the Rise Up Championship Foundation is driven by a vision to promote both emerging and professional sports while discovering and nurturing athletic talent. The Foundation seeks to build a vibrant ecosystem where sports are celebrated not just as competitions, but as a way of life. It also aims to foster meaningful collaborations with brands, creators, and communities, creating a platform that supports athletes and engages fans at every level.
Venue: VGP Golden Beach Resort, Chennai
Dates: September 26, 27 & 28, 2025
Tickets: Available now on Book My Show!
