For those interested in pickling of a different kind, there’s interesting news. Scorena, on Remount Road, Alipore, has introduced pickleball, a racquet sport that combines elements of table tennis, tennis and badminton. Pickleball explosion has swept our country and the globe and people are playing it everywhere. How can Calcutta be a bystander?
(L-R) Akhilesh Jayaswal, Bonny Sengupta, Pradip Churiwal, Koushani Mukherjee, Suraj Juneja, Vineet Bhandari and V. Venkatesh
Anyone in the eight-to-80 age group can enjoy the sport. Pickleball has immense global popularity and is one of the fastest-growing sports in the US with 4.8 million people playing it. The rules are simple: Two teams on the court (separated by a low net) have to send the ball to and fro with a racquet. The side that scores 11 (by a margin of at least two), wins.
Close to the net-area (usually called the Kitchen) is where you can’t hit the ball from and the ball has to bounce on either side before you can take a shot. Scorena’s (owned by Pradip Churiwal, Akhilesh Jayaswal and V. Venkatesh) association with Suraj Juneja from Eastern India Pickleball Association and Vineet Bandari from Bengal Pickleball Association has brought it to the city.
“Pickleball is a new game, already extremely popular in the US, the Middle East and Europe. People are fast switching over from lawn tennis and badminton for more fun and it’s a good workout sport. We are the owner and promoter of Scorena and have created one of the best infrastructures for cricket, football and pickleball, all in one place. Very soon we will start more indoor games in air-conditioned hangers,” said owner Pradip Churiwal.
“It’s entertaining and addictive. It’s fun and offers good cardio to burn some fat. It’s a good thing. A new sport is always welcome. It can be played between two players or more. When we went to Scorena, the space was great for all kinds of sports. I’ll be playing and planning I am planning to get my friends too,” said Bonny.
“My trainer always says that you should get yourself involved in any kind of sport other than the training sessions. It enhances your body flexibility. It was amazing to see a new kind of sport and it’s already popular in Mumbai and so many people are involved with this sport. It’s entertaining and beneficial for your body,” said Koushani.
“People are no longer confined to gyms when it comes to staying fit; they’re embracing a diverse array of sports and activities. Backed by Pradip Churiwal, our concept, Scorena, stems from this shift in fitness culture, emphasising health-conscious dining for athletes. At Scorena, individuals can partake in a variety of sports, including football, cricket, and roller skating, and we also wanted to build a team of professional picklers. Our plans also include fitness studios,” said co-owner Akhilesh Jayaswal
“I am glad Pradip Churiwal matched our vision to bring pickleball to the Eastern region at the Scorena turf. We are proud to introduce the fastest-growing sport in the US to Calcutta. This sport brings joy. All you need is a paddle, a ball and a partner to play. I am thankful to Suraj Juneja and Vineet Bhandari for helping us with the pickleball courts and tie-ups across India. We look forward to having more players becoming professional picklers from Scorena turf. We are open from seven in the morning until midnight,” said co-owner V. Venkatesh
Actors Bonny Sengupta and Koushani Mukherjee were present at the launch.
