In an exciting turn of events, sports legend and eight-time Grand Slam champion and former World No. 1 tennis player Andre Agassi is set to officially flag off the PWR DUPR Indian Tour & League, a grand pickleball tour that promises to bring the thrill of competitive pickleball to India. The sports star will visit the country in January 2025 to take up in the event, which is taking place due to the partnership between The Times Group, Pickleball World Rankings (PWR) and Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR).

Agassi, who is known for his incredible achievements in tennis, shared a special video message for his fans in India. He said, “I’m excited to visit India and bring the excitement of pickleball to its fans. I look forward to the PWR DUPR Indian Tour & League and hope it will be a great success in the country.” The sports star has won eight Grand Slam singles titles, including four Australian Opens, a French Open, a Wimbledon, and two US Opens, as well as a gold medal in men’s singles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Commenting on Agassi’s upcoming visit, Pranav Kohli, CEO and Founder of PWR, said, “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Andre Agassi to India as he flags off the PWR DUPR Indian Tour & League. His involvement brings a tremendous boost to our efforts to promote pickleball in India and globally. Agassi’s passion for the game and his legendary status in the world of sports will surely inspire players and fans alike, and we are confident that this league will set new benchmarks for pickleball in India.”

Vineet Jain, Managing Director of The Times Group said: “We are excited to have Andre Agassi at the launch of PWR DUPR Indian Tour & League. India is one of the fastest-growing markets for pickleball, outside the USA. The player participation, infrastructure, and facilities in pickleball is seeing growth not only in metro cities but also in smaller cities. Beyond recreational play, the sport is also evolving professionally in the country, with many players now pursuing it as a full-time career. Andre Agassi’s participation is a testament to the high growth potential of pickleball in India and will further boost the player and fan engagement. We at the Times Group are proud to be at the forefront of this pickleball revolution.”

Notably, ahead of the PWR DUPR Indian Tour & League, the PWR DUPR India Masters including Battle of the League: Stage 1, a one off PWR 700 event will take place in New Delhi from 24th to 27th October 2024. The latest launch event in Dubai was attended by PWR player Divyanshu Kataria, along with Ryler DeHeart, Megan Fudge DeHeart, Mitch Hargreaves and Emilia Schmidt.

The Battle of the Leagues is a unique PWR concept featuring team-based competition for amateurs. Event partners include DUPR, Minor League Pickleball, Pickleball United, Fans Play, the Indian Pickleball Association, the Asian Pickleball Association, and the Global Pickleball Federation. In addition to the USD 50K prize money, the winning teams in each category of the Battle of the Leagues will secure a spot in the DUPR Nationals in the USA, with PWR covering their travel and accommodation expenses.

Divyenndu is set to return as Munna Tripathi with a bonus episode of Mirzapur season 3. While the actor has helmed many characters, the one that truly stuck with him is his complex portrayal of Munna Tripathi from Mirzapur. Fans have been eagerly waiting for the gangster’s return to the show, who was presumed dead in the second season of the show. However, the makers have officially announced the return of Munna Bhaiya, with an episode releasing on August 30.

The Madgaon Express actor also quipped that playing the character had brought about changes in day-to-day behaviour. “My wife may have mentioned a few instances in which I began to behave in a particular manner in certain situations. She noticed a change in my trigger points. I was getting triggered in a specific way. I always believe that when you stop playing a character, you realise how much it affects you in real life. It works like ear pressure. Munna Tripathi’s role had an impact on me. It was special in some ways, but I don’t think it should be overly romanticised,” he added.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has signalled a distinct change in the government’s Pakistan policy, stating “the era of uninterrupted dialogue… is over” but acknowledging also that New Delhi stands ready to react to developments across the border “whether positive or negative”.

At a private event in Delhi this week, he also offered a stern “actions have consequences” warning to Pakistan, and those within who support terrorist attacks on India. “The issue is… what kind of relationship can we contemplate with Pakistan…” he responded to a question about ties with Pakistan.

On a suggestion that India is content for the relationship to continue as is, he said, “Maybe yes, maybe no… but what I do want to say is that we are not passive, and that whether events take a positive or negative direction… either way we will react.”

#WATCH | Speaking on Pakistan at a book launch event in Delhi, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar says, “The era of uninterrupted dialogue with Pakistan is over. Actions have consequences. So far as J&K is concerned, Article 370 is done. So, the issue is what kind of… pic.twitter.com/41ZSq9VQHs

— ANI (@ANI) August 30, 2024

India’s relationship with Pakistan is volatile with border disputes in Jammu and Kashmir a regular flashpoint. New Delhi has often raised concerns over Pakistan’s support – financial and logistical – of cross-border terrorism, red-flagging these in bilateral and international forums.

In March Mr Jaishankar, on a visit to Singapore, lamented Pakistan’s “almost industry-level” sponsoring of terrorism and terror activities, but stressed “India will not skirt this problem…”

“How do you deal with a neighbour who does not hide the fact that they use terrorism as an instrument of statecraft? It’s not one-off… but very sustained, almost at an industry level.”

He indicated then that while New Delhi will always be open to a friendly dialogue to resolve disputes – as it has stressed in conflict between Russia and Ukraine and amid military tension in West Asia – this could not be at the continued cost of terrorist attacks on India and Indians.

READ | Pak Sponsoring Terrorism At Almost An “Industry Level”: S Jaishankar

“I don’t have a quick instantaneous fix… but what I can tell you is that India will not skirt this problem anymore. We are not going to say, ‘Well, that happened and (now) let’s continue our dialogue’… we should not give the other country a free pass,” he said in Singapore.

A couple of months earlier Mr Jaishankar re-emphasised India’s zero-tolerance stance on cross-border terrorism, and made it clear New Delhi would not, under any circumstance, overlook terror attacks.

READ | “There Will Be Consequences”: S Jaishankar On Pak Practising Terrorism

“In this country, I think tolerance for any kind of cross-border terrorism is very low… there will be consequences. That is the message of Balakot,” he said, referring to a precision strike by Indian armed forces on a terror training camp in Pakistan. This was after a terror attack that killed 19 soldiers.

Mr Jaishankar’s comment on dialogue with Pakistan must also be viewed against the backdrop of elections in Jammu and Kashmir in less than 20 days. The former state will hold its first Assembly election in a decade over three phases beginning September 18.

Ahead of voting both mainstream regional parties – the National Conference and the People’s Democratic Party – have spoken about resuming dialogue and diplomatic ties with Pakistan.

READ | For J&K Assembly Polls: PDP Releases Manifesto, Pandits In Focus

In its manifesto, ex Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP promises advocacy of “diplomatic initiatives between India and Pakistan, emphasising conflict resolution, confidence-building measures, and regional cooperation” and establishment of “trade and social exchange.”

The National Conference, led by former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar, also an ex Chief Minister, has allied with the Congress and it too seeks dialogue with Pakistan.

READ | “Does Congress Support…”: Amit Shah’s 10-Point Attack

The NC and the PDP have been criticised by the Bharatiya Janata Party on this count, with Home Minister Amit Shah asking if the Congress and its senior leader, Rahul Gandhi, “supports nurturing (of) terrorism and its ecosystem… (as a result) of the NC’s wish…”

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