Samantha Ruth
launches her franchise’s
new world pickleball
league (WPBL)
Samantha Ruth Prabhu, actress-entrepreneur and co-owner of the Chennai Super Champs, launched the franchise’s new World Pickleball League (WPBL) Season 2 jersey amidst the Chennai Open at Sathyabama University on November 14. The Chennai Open, organised by the Chennai Super Champs, is being hosted across six state-of-the-art indoor pickleball courts in partnership with the university.
Notably the inaugural edition of the Chennai Open has registered an impressive participation with more than 500 entries across 46 categories and features India’s biggest-ever pickleball prize pool of Rs. 25 lakhs. The tournament concludes on November 16, with Samantha spending time cheering on players as they competed through the early rounds.
The newly launched jersey highlights Chennai’s cultural and emotional identity, blending local symbolism with a contemporary sporting aesthetic. Designed around the concept of a new dawn, the jersey carries an orange-to-yellow gradient representing the sunrise over the Bay of Bengal. The colours are paired with subtle kolam-inspired micro-patterns that honour Tamil Nadu’s heritage, while bold red accents signify fire, movement and speed. The palette collectively reflects the city’s vibrancy and fearless sporting spirit.
Speaking at the launch Samantha said, “Every time she steps into Sathyabama University, she is reminded of why this partnership matters. Chennai loves its sport loud, proud, and with heart. This new jersey is our way of carrying that emotion onto the world stage. Cheering on the participants at the Chennai Open was special, as this is where the future of pickleball begins. She wants every youngster in Chennai to know that this sport belongs to them too. As they head into Season 2, their team carries the colours and also the belief of an entire city.
As per Co-owner Himank Duvvuru “Season 2 is a step up in every sense, stronger team and a bigger vision for how we want Chennai to engage with pickleball. What excites us is how naturally the sport is growing here. The Chennai Open and our collaboration with Sathyabama University are proof that when you give this city access and opportunity, it responds with energy and enthusiasm. The new jersey is symbolic of our intent to build something lasting, meaningful, and rooted in community.”
According to
Dr. Mariazeena Johnson, Chancellor of Sathyabama University, said, “they are proud to host Chennai Super Champs once again on our campus and to see pickleball thrive here through the Chennai Open. The university’s state-of-the-art indoor pickleball courts have become a hub for young athletes, and having Ms. Samantha Ruth Prabhu rally with them today was inspiring. This partnership encourages our students to dream big, train well, and explore new sporting pathways.”
The Chennai Super Champs will debut their new jersey at the WPBL Season 2, beginning January 2026 at Jio World Garden, Mumbai. The team’s full squad includes Sonu Vishwakarma from India, Tanner Tomassi from the USA, Simone Jardim from Brazil, Ly Hoang Nam and Do Minh Quan from Vietnam, Carlota Trevino from Mexico, Rika Fujiwara from Japan, and Tea Pejic from Croatia, with Johnny Goldberg from the USA serving as head coach.
News Edit KV Raman
