GURUGRAM, India — August 10, 2026: Stupa Sports, an AI-powered sports technology and analytics company, has announced a three-year partnership with Pickleball England, becoming the Official Data & Technology Partner for the English OPEN. The 2026 edition of the tournament will take place from August 11–16 at the National Exhibition Center (NEC) in Birmingham, marking Stupa Sports’ entry into the UK pickleball market.
The partnership will see Stupa Sports deploy an integrated suite of artificial intelligence-powered technologies across officiating, match analytics, broadcasting and live-streaming operations at the tournament. The collaboration reflects the growing adoption of technology to support the development of professional pickleball and marks another step in Stupa Sports’ international expansion.
AI-Powered Technology Across the Tournament
As part of the partnership, Stupa Sports will provide technology designed to support players, officials, broadcasters, commentators, and fans throughout the English OPEN.
The technology deployment will include:
- AI-powered Match Analytics: Real-time statistics and performance insights designed to provide players, coaches, broadcasters, commentators and fans with deeper visibility into match performance.
- AI-powered Decision Review System: A Video Assistant Referee (VAR)-enabled system and automated line-calling technology designed to assist officials with line and serve decisions during critical moments of play.
- Broadcast and LED Graphics: Dynamic visual solutions featuring live scores, player statistics, and match insights for spectators and broadcast audiences.
- Professional Live Streaming Production: High-quality digital production aimed at enabling audiences around the world to follow the tournament remotely.
The deployment is intended to create a connected technology environment across competition management, officiating, and audience engagement while supporting Pickleball England’s efforts to deliver a high-quality tournament experience.
Megha Gambhir, Co-Founder and CEO, Stupa Sports, said:
“Our partnership with Pickleball England reflects a shared vision of using technology to strengthen officiating, broadcasting, and fan engagement. As pickleball continues to expand internationally, the technology supporting its tournaments must evolve alongside the sport. Through our AI-powered Decision Review System, real-time match analytics and broadcast solutions, we aim to provide greater accuracy and transparency while creating a richer experience for players, officials, and fans. We are pleased to bring these capabilities to the English OPEN and begin our journey in the UK market.”
Supporting the Growth of Pickleball in England
The English OPEN has developed into one of Europe’s prominent pickleball events, attracting players from England and international markets. The tournament’s move to the NEC in Birmingham provides an expanded platform for competition and audience engagement as the sport continues to develop across the region.
Through the partnership, Pickleball England is integrating technology across multiple areas of tournament delivery, with the objective of enhancing competition operations and the experience for participants and spectators.
Karen Mitchell, CEO, Pickleball England, said:
“As the English OPEN continues to grow in scale and stature, we are committed to adopting innovations that strengthen the competition experience. Stupa Sports brings significant expertise in sports technology, and we are pleased to work together on the next stage of the tournament’s development. We believe these solutions will support our officials and players while helping us deliver an engaging experience for audiences.”
Expanding India’s Sports Technology Presence Globally
The Pickleball England partnership adds to Stupa Sports’ expanding international presence across racquet sports and other sporting disciplines. The company has developed technology spanning match analytics, live scoring, tournament management, officiating, broadcast graphics, and performance intelligence.
Its international engagements include its appointment as Official Competition Management Partner for Table Tennis New Zealand, certification of its AI-powered Instant Review System by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) for sanctioned badminton tournaments, and its role as Data and Technology Partner for the Pickleball Champions League Asia Finals.
Stupa Sports has also deployed its Stupa Cast technology at the Generali Hexagon Cup Padel tournament and provided AI-powered analytics for Major League Table Tennis and the Prime Volleyball League. Its international footprint has further expanded through collaborations with Table Tennis Australia and other sporting organizations across Oceania.
The partnership with Pickleball England represents another step in the company’s strategy to take Indian-developed sports technology into established international sporting ecosystems.
As pickleball continues to gain participation and professional recognition globally, Stupa Sports aims to expand its technology platform across federations, leagues and major sporting events, supporting the growing demand for data-driven officiating, performance analysis and digital fan experiences.
About Stupa Sports
Stupa Sports is a sports technology company specializing in AI-powered data analytics, live scoring, officiating technology and broadcast graphics. The company works with sports federations, leagues and tournaments to provide technology solutions designed to enhance competition management, performance analysis, officiating and fan engagement.
Website: Stupa Sports
LinkedIn: Stupa Sports on LinkedIn
About Pickleball England
Pickleball England is a not-for-profit organization established to promote and develop pickleball across England. Founded in January 2019, the organization has more than 19,000 registered members and works with clubs, players and venues to support the growth of the sport.
Pickleball England was recognized by Sport England as the official governing body for pickleball in December 2024. The organization estimates that more than 80,000 people play pickleball across the UK, with more than 1,350 venues available.
Website: Pickleball England
Media Contact
Madhav Mathur
madhav@sportscomindia.com
+91 96502 61955
