The newly constructed Pickleball court at the MVM Educational Campus, a project of the prestigious and veteran Mogaveera Vyavasthapaka Mandali , was officially inaugurated on the evening of Sunday, April 5, 2026. The ceremony was headlined by Advocate Ashish Shelar, the Minister for Cultural Affairs and Information Technology of Maharashtra State, who performed the ribbon-cutting ceremony and offered his congratulations to the institution.
Speaking on the vision behind the project, Ganesh Kanchan, President of the Mandali said ” I am a sportsman and a volleyball player at heart. My passion for sports has been lifelong, and I have spent the last 20 years playing for both Maharashtra and Mumbai. Over the past nine months, while serving as President here, I was approached by Daya, Vishnu Kargaonkar, and our student Michael with a proposal to host a pickleball tournament. I thought, why stop at just a tournament? Instead, we decided to build a permanent pickleball court right here.
Today’s younger generation is increasingly disconnected from physical activity, spending most of their time on mobiles and gadgets. This is a concerning trend for the future of our youth and our country. When we were in school, sports were a central part of our lives, but unfortunately, we see less of that in schools today. MVM is a 125-year-old institution with deep experience. Under our Vision 2030 panel, we are committed to making significant contributions to education, medical services, and sports for the entire Andheri region.
We recently organized a cluster volleyball tournament that saw participation from 128 teams and nearly 1,000 students right here in this building. This was a first for Mumbai, and even the CBSE Board appreciated the scale of our efforts. Furthermore, we are collaborating with the Achievers Cricket Academy, led by Ranji player Subramanian. His expertise has already helped 25 players make it to the Mumbai team. I urge all parents to come to MVM and encourage their children to step onto the field and embrace the spirit of sports”.
The facility was developed under the guidance of the prominent mentors of the Mandali , including Nadoja Dr. G. Shankar, Ved Prakash Shriyan, Suresh Kanchan, and Gopal Puthran. The project was a collaborative effort involving Ganesh Kanchan, Ajit G. Suvarna (Honorary President of the Educational Committee), and Secretary Varadaraj Shriyan. The successful execution of the event was managed by the Sports Committee, led by President Manmohan Karkera and Secretary Prashanth Tingalaya, with overall supervision by Jeeja Academy.
Pickleball is gaining rapid popularity as a sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Known for being easy on the body with minimal physical strain, it is considered an inclusive sport suitable for individuals of all age groups.
The event saw a significant turnout, including Honorary Secretary Dilip Mulki, Honorary Treasurer Devaraj Kundar, and Mahabala Kundar, the former President of Mogaveera Mahajana Seva Sangha Bagwadi. Trustees, office bearers, members of the women’s wing, and numerous community members were also in attendance to witness this new milestone for the Mogaveera Vyavasthapaka Mandali.
