Charting Pickleball’s Course to the Olympics

February 4, 2025

 

By Chandler Carney & Ruth Rosenquist

As the world’s only international federation for pickleball with a democratic board representing all five continents, 2025 will increase opportunities for our rapidly growing membership to activate our “Pickleball for the World” mission.  The Global Pickleball Federation’s working board includes legacy directors who founded pickleball in Australia, Ghana, Ireland, Mexico, Poland and The Philippines.

With the growing excitement around pickleball’s potential inclusion in the Olympics, here are some key facts:

Q: Will pickleball qualify for the Olympics if we don’t have one international governing body?

A:  Unification under a single, democratically governed international federation is crucial for the advancement of pickleball on the global stage. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) prioritizes sports with cohesive, unified leadership, The presence of multiple competing entities claiming international governance undermines this principle. These competing organizations, while perhaps well-meaning, jeopardize the sport’s prospects for Olympic recognition by creating confusion and fragmentation.

The GPF is the only international federation that meets the IOC’s standards for democratic governance, inclusivity and global representation. With powerhouse federations like USA Pickleball, Pickleball Canada, and Pickleball Australia as members, the GPF’s transparent governance fosters collaboration among its 55 member countries.

Q: Why don’t the three governing bodies for pickleball join forces?

A: The path to Olympic inclusion requires a unified effort. For pickleball to gain the credibility and support needed to meet the IOC’s rigorous criteria, all stakeholders must come together under the GPF’s leadership. This unification would not only strengthen the sport’s position, but also ensure that pickleball’s governance reflects democratic principles, inclusivity and accountability. Over two years, the GPF founding members worked with both the International Pickleball Federation (IPF) and World Pickleball Federation (WPF) toward unification, but neither would agree to merge with the other. That failure led to the formation of the GPF. Although both groups re-announced their mutual plans to merge after the GPF's AGM last November, their merger has not come to fruition. The GPF recognizes the foundational achievements the individuals behind IPF and WPF have made for pickleball, and the door remains open to join forces with the GPF in the spirit of unity, and the greater good of our game.

Q: Which requirements are critical for pickleball to be inducted into the Olympics?

The process for a sports governing body to apply for IOC recognition is multi-tiered. Here are a few top-line requirements:

  1. Democratic, inclusive, and transparent governance principles in compliance with the IOC Olympic Charter
  2. Implementation of the World Anti-Doping Agency Standards (WADA)
  3. Recognition of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)
  4. Worldwide presence and international competition.

While pickleball remains an emerging sport in many parts of the world, the GPF is working tirelessly through its members and team of industry experts, with the goal of pickleball’s induction into the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

Javier Regalado

Aditya Khanna

Asia Continental Director
(India)

Aditya Khanna of New Delhi, India, is a pioneering figure in Indian pickleball, serving as the CEO of the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA), the National Sports Federation for pickleball in India and as the first Secretary of the Asian Pickleball Association, the continental federation of the Global Pickleball Federation. Widely recognized as a driving force in pickleball in India, he has been instrumental in bringing together Asian member nations and in establishing the sport's organizational structure. Khanna also helped conceptualize and launch the Indian Pickleball League in December 2025, promoting competitive play and grassroots participation across India and Asia.

A former professional tennis player, Aditya currently captains the Indian 40+ Tennis Team and is ranked among the top 10 in the world in ITF Masters. He has served as Tournament Director for high-profile Davis Cup ties, including India vs. Spain (with Rafa Nadal) and India vs. Denmark. An accomplished entrepreneur, Khanna owns and leads companies across textiles, real estate and sports and is a strategic partner of India’s Tennis Premier League. An undergraduate from the London School of Economics with a master’s degree from the University of Oxford and prior investment banking experience in London.

Javier Regalado

Rika Riordan

At Large

Rika Riordan of Tokyo, Japan, is a dynamic leader and pioneer in the development of pickleball in Japan, currently serving as Chairperson of the Pickleball Japan Federation (PJ). In February 2026, she spearheaded the historic merger of Japan's two existing pickleball federations into a single unified national body, strengthening the sport's governance and long-term sustainability.

Prior to the merger, Riordan founded the Pickleball Japan Federation (PJF) in 2023, where she served as Vice-Chairperson. Under her leadership, PJF organized Japan's first international pickleball tournament in 2024, drawing 700 participants from nine countries and securing major corporate sponsorships. In 2025, she expanded the tournament to 1,300 participants from 18 countries, attracting coverage from 32 media outlets. She also launched coaching and referee training programs that helped grow Japan's player base more than tenfold. Prior to joining the GPF, Riordan served as a Board of Directors member of the WPF in 2025.

Riordan is also the Founder and President of the Japan Hawaii Pickleball Association (JHPA), established in 2022 to cultivate cross-cultural ties between Japan and Hawaii through pickleball diplomacy, including the Honolulu Sister City inaugural pickleball Mayor's Cup.

Her leadership in pickleball is built on a distinguished career in international business. As Founder and President of Mockingbird Trading Co. (1995 –2012), she grew an import business with products worn by one in six babies born in Japan. She began her career as a Corporate Travel Planner at Japan Travel Bureau.

Riordan holds a Bachelor of Arts from Gakushuin University, where she was also a member of the university tennis team. She is fluent in Japanese and English.

Javier Regalado

Chandler Carney

At-Large
(Chile)

Chandler Carney is a U.S. attorney, a three-time member of Chile's national pickleball team (2023–2025) and a builder of the sport across South America. Elected to a second term on the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF) Board of Directors, she continues to serve as Chair of the GPF Legal Committee, where she leads the Federation's work on policy drafting, contract and commercial review, compliance, institutional development and more.

Based in Chile, Chandler has been instrumental in growing pickleball in the region. She is the co-founder of KONDOR Pickleball, and the founder of Pickleball UC by KONDOR at Club Deportivo Universidad Católica, which she has grown into a thriving community of players. She was a founding member of the Asociación de Pickleball de Chile (APC). As a high-performance player, coach, facility owner and brand owner, Chandler has a deep understanding of the sport through multiple lenses.

Within the GPF, Chandler has taken a leading role in the Federation's most significant partnerships and negotiations. She has served on the negotiation team behind the DUPR–GPF partnership, on the unification team working toward alignment with the UWPF and has represented the GPF as a speaker and delegate at RacquetX and other major industry conferences.

Chandler earned her J.D. from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law and her B.A. from the University of West Florida, and her scholarship has been published in the Fordham International Law Journal. She is bilingual in English and Spanish, with developing Portuguese. Through her work on the GPF Board and Legal Committee, Chandler is committed to building durable, transparent and athlete-centered governance structures that can support pickleball's growth as a global sport.

To learn more about Chandler Carney's role as GPF Chief Compliance Officer, please visit this link: https://globalpickleballfederation.org/news/chandler-carney-esq-joins-gpf-executive-committee-as-chief-compliance-officer/

Javier Regalado

Ruth Rosenquist

At-Large
(USA)

Ruth Rosenquist of Scottsdale, Arizona, is a PR/marketing practitioner and avid pickleball player since she discovered the sport in 1992. Today, she chairs the Community Development Committee as a Board Member of the Global Pickleball Federation, overseeing a grant program called Operation Paddle Lift that distributes essential pickleball equipment to underserved regions across the world. Ruth has also led Marketing/Communications efforts for GPF since its launch, serving as social media admin, facilitating industry events and PR efforts.

Rosenquist facilitated the first national news story where pickleball was named “the fastest growing sport in America” by NBC Nightly News in 2014. More than a decade later, that phrase still rings true. Due to her formative years living in Ibadan, Nigeria, Ruth turned her focus to growing pickleball across the globe with the former International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) from 2020-2022. Ruth then became an inaugural board member of the Global Pickleball Federation in 2023. Over her career, Ruth has rolled out fundraising initiatives for Susan G. Komen, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Save the Children and Autism Speaks, raising over $3 million. She also incubated a sensory-friendly experience for children of all abilities in partnership with Autism Speaks that remains active in 600 locations across North America today.

Ruth embarked on her advocacy for the sport of pickleball in 2013, serving on the USA Pickleball Board as Media Chair, continuing after her term ended as a PR Consultant until 2019.

Ruth holds a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from Arizona State University.

Javier Regalado

Leonardo Stango

At Large

Leonardo Stango is a pioneering leader in the global growth of pickleball and the founder of pickleball in Venezuela. Since introducing the sport in 2021 with just one court and four paddles, he has helped develop a nationwide movement that now includes more than 200 courts, thousands of players, certified coaches and international competition pathways.

Leonardo serves as President of the Venezuelan Pickleball Association (AVP) and President of the Pickleball Federation of the Americas (PFA), overseeing development across North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

As Director of Team Venezuela, Leonardo travels internationally promoting the sport, leading national delegations and supporting the continued growth of Venezuelan pickleball on the world stage. Under his leadership, Venezuela has become one of the fastest-growing pickleball nations in Latin America.

A certified PPR Coach Developer and international instructor, Leonardo has led coach education programs, referee development, grassroots initiatives, school programs and adaptive pickleball projects, helping establish pickleball throughout Venezuela and across the Americas.
In recognition of his contributions to the sport, Leonardo received the PFA Award of Excellence – Person of the Year.

Leonardo is proud to be part of the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF), working alongside international leaders to support the worldwide growth of pickleball, contribute to global decision-making and advance the long-term vision of achieving Olympic recognition for the sport.

His vision remains simple: to create opportunities through pickleball, unite communities and expand the sport throughout the Americas and beyond.

Javier Regalado

Ngoc Nguyen

At-Large

Ngoc Nguyen of Los Angeles, California, brings over 20 years of deep expertise and trusted relationships across entertainment, sports, philanthropy and culture. Through her firm, Nguyen Strategies, Ngoc advises individuals and companies through the lens of a publicist, producer and cultural strategist.

Ngoc worked for entertainment powerhouses Miramax Films, Creative Artists Agency and Paramount Pictures before launching her consultancy, where she has advised Google, TEDx, CBS Sports, Taste of Tennis, SXSW, Bad Robot and The Actor Awards, among others.
As a filmmaker, Ngoc is an award-winning producer of movies, TV series and digital content. Her projects have topped the charts of major platforms, including APPLE TV, Hulu, Paramount+ and her most recent endeavor, a television series called “Everyone is Doing Great,” premiered on Netflix in May 2026.

Ngoc’s advocacy work has included clients such as Katy Perry’s Firework Foundation, J.J. Abrams and Katie McGrath Family Foundation, and TIME’S UP, where she was SVP and Head of Entertainment. She also serves on the Advisory Board for Harness, an organization founded by America Ferrera and Wilmer Valderrama.

With a passion for sports, Ngoc worked at the U.S. Open Tennis Championships for five years in New York and facilitated numerous VIP events around the Australian Open. In pickleball, Ngoc produces Katy Perry’s annual Light Up the Court celebrity tournament; she is a Board Member for the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF) and, currently, she is working with APPLE TV on their upcoming comedy, THE DINK, where Ngoc leads all sports/pickleball PR efforts for the highly anticipated film.

In 2025, Ngoc was honored by the International Cinematographers Guild with one of the union’s most prestigious awards, The Bob Yaegar Award, highlighting an individual's commitment to philanthropy.

Jen Ramamurthy

Jen Ramamurthy

GPF Secretary General
Oceania Continental Director
(Australia)

Jen Ramamurthy of Brisbane, Australia, has been integral to the introduction and development of pickleball in Australia since 2018. She currently serves as the Board Chair for Pickleball Australia and is the Secretary General on the governing board of the Global Pickleball Federation. Additionally, Jen was a founding member of the Oceania Pickleball Federation, where she established teams to oversee the development and implementation of effective strategic plans to manage the growth and sustainability of pickleball in the region.

Jen's background includes 25 years of teaching, leadership and teacher education in the disciplines of Physical Education and Science, while simultaneously taking on coaching and sports management responsibilities at regional, state, and national levels in various sports. Jen is currently working as the Co-Founder and Director of a company that delivers affordable solar to the remote and rural regions of Papua New Guinea. She holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Sydney in Human Movement and Science and a Masters of Education degree in e-learning and Gifted Education from the University of New England.

Javier Regalado

Dr. Babatunde Olalekan Epoyun

Africa Continental Director

Dr. Babatunde Olalekan Epoyun of Lagos, Nigeria and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is a strategic operations leader, global management researcher and sports executive with a proven track record of scaling high-growth organizational infrastructure and sports ecosystems. Dr. Epoyun serves as the Continental Director for Africa on the board of the Global Pickleball Federation and as the Events & Tournaments Director on the board of the Confederation of African Pickleball (CAP). Dr. Epoyun’s leadership is defined by a unique fusion of academic rigor and extensive on-the-ground execution.

He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Insurance from the University of Lagos, Nigeria; a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Global Management from Keiser University in Florida; a Master of Sport Management from Barry University; and a Master of Public Administration from Florida International University. Dr. Epoyun’s expertise allows him to optimize operational resources, mentor organizational talent and build resilient operational strategies.

As a dedicated personality in international sports governance, Dr. Epoyun has been instrumental in expanding pickleball on a continental scale. Notably, he led stakeholder relationships, negotiations and production logistics seamlessly for the historic introduction of pickleball as a demonstration sport at the 13th African Games in Accra, Ghana. Dr. Epoyun is also an active product innovator and entrepreneur. As the Proprietor of Blue Purple Vail LLC and a Director of Supergoal Corp, he has successfully operated multi-venue athletic competitions, managed extensive corporate and municipal contracts and partnered in developing "Pocketball" prediction technology. He is also a Burke Learning Agility-certified professional and a published presenter on organizational restructuring strategies.

Javier Regalado

Roger Keevy

At-Large

Roger Keevy (aka "Papa Dink") resides in South Africa, where he is a seasoned pickleball instructor, referee trainer, and community builder with international experience across Africa, the Middle East and beyond. First introduced to the sport in 2012, Roger rediscovered pickleball in 2018 at a YMCA in Indiana and quickly embraced it as a defining part of his life. He is a certified IPTPA Instructor and a trainee referee with USA Pickleball. Roger teaches refereeing across South Africa, the African continent, and the Middle East, and lends his expertise as a member of the GPF Coaching Endorsement Program.

In 2023, Keevy was part of the team that delivered the first-ever inter-continental pickleball tournament in Africa at the 13th African Games in Accra, Ghana. Roger founded the Cairo Pickleball Academy, a community hub connecting players in the Middle East and North Africa with a global network. After 30 years abroad, he has returned to South Africa to focus on grassroots development and to expand access to pickleball in underserved communities across Southern Africa and within the Confederation of African Pickleball.

Javier Regalado

Cynthia Clark

Vice President
(Canada)

Cynthia Clark of Calgary, Alberta, is an experienced entrepreneur and consultant across numerous sectors, including commercial and retail sales, human resources, start-ups and business development. A graduate of the Ivey School of Business, Cynthia has advised many companies and organizations, resulting in raised awareness, meaningful impact and financial gain.

For over 20 years, Clark has served on a variety of boards (profit and not-for-profit) and brings her expertise in sales, marketing and customer service to these roles. After serving as part of the organization’s inaugural board of directors, in June 2026, Cynthia was elected to the role of Vice President of the Global Pickleball Federation as part of its Executive Committee. In addition to her role as Vice President, Clark leads membership efforts, serving as GPF’s Director of Member Operations, overseeing membership engagement, retention initiatives and implementation processes to enhance member experience and streamline communications with nearly 80 GPF members/national federations across the globe.

Before her role with GPF, Clark was a director with Pickleball Canada (2021-2024). Clark also engages in numerous philanthropic initiatives, among them serving on the Board of Directors of the J T Clark Family Foundation and the Passamaquoddy Lodge Foundation.

Clark took her first pickleball lesson in 2021 and has been hooked ever since.

Javier Regalado

Raymond Schuster

At-Large

Raymond Schuster of the Independent State of Samoa was born in its capital, Apia, deep in the South Pacific Ocean. Raymond was educated in Samoa and attended tertiary education in New Zealand, where he studied at the University of Waikato under a Samoan/NZ Government Scholarship for a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in History and Politics. In 1998, after receiving a law degree from the University of the South Pacific (Emalus Campus in Vanuatu), Schuster became an Assistant Attorney General State Prosecutor, a role he held for eight years. While serving in that role, he was in charge of Criminal Prosecution, Trans-national Crime and the portfolio on International Criminal Court Convention for the development of the International Criminal Court. In 2006, he started his own private law practice, Schuster Law Firm, which he operated until August 2018. Schuster was sworn in as a District Court Judge of the Independent State of Samoa in September 2018 and continues in that role to date.

Schuster is a former president of Tennis Samoa Inc and has added pickleball to his resume, playing for Hillside Pickleball Club in Apia in the Masters Division. He currently serves as a Board Member for the Global Pickleball Federation.

Javier Regalado

Justin Maloof

At-Large
(USA)

Justin Maloof of Phoenix, Arizona was named Executive Director for USA Pickleball on January 1, 2013 and was the organization’s first full-time employee. He was elevated to Chief Operating Officer in 2021. As USA Pickleball’s COO, he is responsible for the overall operation of the organization. He also oversees USA Pickleball’s operational structure, sustainability and service to its members and sponsors. Maloof is entering his 12th year with USA Pickleball and his 32nd year in professional/amateur sports. Prior to joining USAP, he served 16 years with the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes Hockey Club. He served 2 years as the team’s head fan development before being named Executive Director of the team’s training center in Scottsdale.

Javier Regalado

Michael Johnson

Treasurer
(Philippines)

Mike Johnson of Manila, Philippines has a diverse career as commercial helicopter pilot, entrepreneur and businessman. He is a world pickleball ambassador, certified pickleball Instructor, founder and current Chairman of the Philippine Pickleball Federation (PPF), co-founder and former Secretary General of the Singapore-based Asia Federation of Pickleball (AFP) and former Secretary of the International Federation of Pickleball (now known as IPF). Mike also served as co-chair of the international pickleball rules committee, and as a founding member of both the Unify Pickleball Task Force (UPTF) and the International Pickleball Action Committee (IPAC), which formed to unite the sport under a single international governing body. Today Johnson serves on the Board of Directors of the Global Pickleball Federation, (GPF) and continues to work toward global unification of the sport.

Javier Regalado

Steve Sidwell

Vice President
(USA)

Steve Sidwell of Paso Robles, California began his career in international regulatory affairs. His work enabled global market access for medical devices, which fueled his lifelong passion for diverse cultures. Sidwell discovered pickleball in 2013, and his love for the game flourished. He served in USAPA roles from District Ambassador to West Coast Regional Director, overseeing 220 Ambassadors and the first 1,000-participant USAPA Regional Tournament.

His international pickleball journey began in Madrid in 2015, from tournaments across Europe to an alliance to organize the sport globally. Serving as President and Membership Director of an international pickleball organization, he tirelessly worked to unify over 60 countries across five continents. In 2022, Sidwell championed the formation of the Global Pickleball Federation, uniting the top ten pickleball-playing countries as Vice President of the Pickleball Federation of the Americas, before assuming his current role as GPF Vice President. He holds a B.S. degree in Business from the University of Nebraska.

Javier Regalado

Erika Von Heiland Strader, OLY

GPF President

Erika Von Heiland Strader, OLY, of Atlanta, Georgia, is an Olympian, former Coca-Cola executive and current President of the Global Pickleball Federation.

A Filipino/German/American, Erika was born and raised in the Philippines and moved to the United States in 1985. She was granted an athletic scholarship to attend Arizona State University, where she received a B.A. in Criminal Justice, Magna Cum Laude. After college, Erika became a member of the inaugural Badminton Olympic team in 1992 and returned to compete back-to-back in the 1996 Olympic Games. She is a Pan American Games Bronze medalist and has competed in numerous World Championships and Uber Cup competitions for the U.S.

Erika recently retired from a 22-year career with The Coca-Cola Company, where she served as the Director of Community Marketing and Engagement for the North America Division. While there, Erika led complex, multi-stakeholder strategies and nurtured long-term partnerships with many global organizations, including USO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Special Olympics, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and The National Park Foundation. Erika also led a comprehensive volunteerism strategy, ensuring a quantifiable difference was made for consumers in their local communities.

Erika is both an IFPA and PPR Certified Professional Coach, a 5.0 player and a Partner of Let’s Go Pickleball and Padel in Peachtree City, GA. She serves as an At-Large Board Member of USA Pickleball and, in June 2026, Erika was elected President of the Global Pickleball Federation, whose mission centers around raising awareness and support for the sport across the globe and leading pickleball’s journey towards the Olympics.

Erika’s knowledge as an Olympian, combined with her experience managing executive-level relationships, reinforces her ability to lead GFP’s strategic insight and operational fluency.

Erika is honored to contribute her broad business experience and world-class athlete experience to help support GPF in growing the sport of pickleball with integrity, inclusivity and global reach.