Hyderabad: Following 10 weeks of intense grassroots competition, local rivalries, and an influx of elite racquet sport talent, the newly evolved CCPL Club League Hyderabad has officially crowned its ultimate city champion: Vikings PC.
This weekend marked the culmination of a massive second season as the HPL Club League—now officially the CCPL Club League Hyderabad, presented by Praneeth Group—arrived on centre-stage for the State of the League. What began as side-court battles across 19 city venues concluded at the Crosscourts Sports Club in Gandipet. Over 10 weeks, the home-and-away circuit built fierce local rivalries, drawing an on-ground audience of over 8,000 and providing 220+ playing opportunities for more than 350 registered athletes, including 92 women.
In the Conference A Final, Penguin PC defeated DRC Sports Foundation 4-2. The Conference B Final brought a nail-biting finish, with Vikings PC edging out Build Crew in a 3-3 tiebreaker, ultimately winning the game breaker 25-22. Riding that momentum into the ultimate State of the League Final, Vikings PC delivered a dominant performance, sweeping Penguin PC 4-0 to claim the championship.
The intensity of the finale was a fitting end to a hard-fought season. Reflecting on the competitive climax, Yashwanth Biyyala, Co-founder, Centre Court Sports & Entertainment, noted, “What’s exciting is how competitive the league became right at the end. Every team in the top four had moments where they looked capable of going all the way, and that’s what made the finals really interesting.”
Vikrant Rao, Co-founder, added, “The crowds were invested, and the teams have built momentum and personalities across the season. The finals felt like the natural payoff to everything the league has been building over the last several weeks.”
The value of this season extended far beyond the trophy, successfully building a genuine talent pipeline by drawing top-tier athletes from other racquet sports. For former international tennis player Abhaya (Vikings PC), the transition was sparked by the community. “A few months ago, I didn’t really know much about the sport. Then Vineeth, the owner of our team Vikings, told me about the league and the matches, so I thought I’d give pickleball a try. The people, the atmosphere during matches, and the overall vibe are all amazing. Pickleball has already become so big and popular, and I feel like it’s only going to keep growing.”
Similarly, Sai Saran, who played tennis internationally for over 15 years before joining the league, noted how fundamental tennis skills translated perfectly. “The fun and competitive league atmosphere made the sport really interesting,” he noted, adding that his biggest adjustment was “staying lower and getting used to how differently the ball reacts.”
With seasoned professionals and passionate grassroots players elevating the quality of play week after week, the CCPL Club League has cemented its place as a transformative platform for Hyderabad’s sporting community.
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