Pickleball introduced in Tanzanian primary schools

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania Pickleball Association president Kartik Kapoor has announced that the newly introduced sport has received a positive response across various regions of the country.

He explained that the primary goal of this initiative is to introduce the game in primary schools so that pupils can learn and benefit from its various advantages.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam during a training session for youth with disabilities at the Gymkhana courts, Kapoor said:

“We started this game in August 2024, and I want to see it grow even further. I’ve launched a programme in schools to teach pupils at Jangwani and Buguruni primary schools. I expect to expand this programme even more,” Kapoor shared.

He noted that the response from Tanzanians has been impressive, with over 2,000 people already trained in the sport since its introduction.

The programme began in Dar es Salaam and Arusha, with plans to expand to Dodoma, Mwanza, and eventually Zanzibar.

“In just a few months, the sport has grown rapidly,” Kapoor added.

 Wheelchair tennis player Pendo James expressed her excitement at playing pickleball for the first time. "It’s still a new sport here in Tanzania, and I’m happy to be part of it," she said.

"My coach saw my potential, and I will motivate my peers to come and experience this wonderful game so it can spread more across the country," Pendo added.

Coach Alex Simon from the United States, who is in Tanzania to train local players, emphasised the importance of increasing the number of people to play pickleball.

“This is my first time coming to Tanzania, and I am amazed to see the high level of skill among the players here, even better than I expected. But what’s even more impressive is the growing number of people playing the game,” Simon stated.

He also added that he is training Tanzanian players to reach an international standard and believes the country will soon be competing at the global level.

“Pickleball is still an emerging sport, but without a doubt, the players are coming from other racket sports like badminton, table tennis, and paddle tennis. One of the challenges is making people more aware of these sports, but the process is progressing well,” he said.

Simon believes that the key to the sport’s further growth in Tanzania is to establish an internationally recognised training centre and to make the sport more accessible to the public.

"It’s been a joy and honor to work with these young Tanzanian players, teaching them a little and trying to make them the best players they can be,” he added.

Aidan Edgar, a Standard Five pupil from the Salvation Army School, also shared his thoughts on pickleball, saying it is a great sport that allows him to compete.

However, he urged the government and other institutions to assist people with disabilities in playing the sport.

“As someone who plays wheelchair tennis and now pickleball, I hope the government and other stakeholders prioritize supporting people with disabilities in these sports,” Edgar said.

As the programme continues to grow, there is hope that pickleball will spread across Tanzania, empowering more young people, including those with disabilities, and providing them with new opportunities to compete and succeed in sports.