India’s Racketlon Captain Vikramaditya Chaufla On Sport’s Growth and Glory

Last Updated:May 17, 2026, 09:49 IST

In cricket-obsessed India, Racketlon is gaining ground. Captain Vikramaditya Chaufla speaks on defending the title, multi-sport challenges, and the need for support.

In a cricket-crazy country like India, Racketlon is steadily finding its footing.

It’s a unique sport with multiple disciplines in which competitors face off against the same opponent across the four most popular racket sports, with rackets ranging from the smallest to the largest.

Each game is played up to 21 points. The winner is decided based on who has accumulated the highest number of points across all four sports.

With the Racketlon Championship set to begin in August, India’s captain, Vikramaditya Chaufla, is gearing up to lead from the front once again. Having ended a six-year wait for the title last year, the Indian team now heads into the competition as defending champions.

In this conversation with CNN-News18, Vikram speaks about the challenges of mastering four sports, India’s rise in the discipline, and why the sport needs institutional backing to grow truly.

Here are the edited excerpts:

Could you please give us a brief about the upcoming Racketlon Championship?

Vikram: The upcoming championship will start in the first week of August this year, and we are very well-trained. We won the championship last year after a gap of six years, so we are really looking forward to it. The team is very strong.

We had an amazing team last year. We had Nidhi, who was a former Indian badminton player. We had Sohail, who was a squash champion in his category in India. We had Prashant, Raghav, Nahit, and me. So yes, we have a strong team.

India are the defending champions. Could you take us back to the previous championship when you lifted the trophy?

Vikram: It was one of the best experiences ever, especially when you are leading the team. I would really like to thank all my teammates, Racketlon India Sports Association (RISA) president Kaushal Kumar Cheema, and our founder, Krishna B. Kotak. Because of their support, we could achieve this.

It was really amazing. We had also won the Nations Cup before, and this time we won the Challengers Cup. We are very thrilled to play again, and let’s see how it goes.

Sports in India are growing rapidly, with formats like pickleball gaining popularity. Where does Racketlon stand, and how do you see its future?

Vikram: Both sports are very different. Pickleball is played by people of all age groups, with the USA leading and making a big impact.

Racketlon started in Europe, where it is very popular, and is now growing in other countries, including the USA. Since it involves four major sports, it takes a toll on the body, whereas playing a single sport is comparatively easier.

Different sports require different physical abilities. Pickleball is growing fast in India, with amazing athletes coming up. Racketlon, I feel, will become more popular once it is introduced in schools.

The popularity of any sport increases with government support. When jobs are available through sports, more people get involved because they seek security. It will take time, but it is growing at a good pace.

In terms of government support, where does the sport stand right now?

Vikram: It will take some time because Racketlon is not yet in the Olympics. It has started featuring in the World Games. As soon as it becomes an Olympic sport, support will increase.

Squash has recently been included in the Olympics, so gradually things are moving. As sports are included in the Olympics, government support and job opportunities also increase.

In India, security is very important. If someone is playing sports, they naturally have concerns about the future.

Which teams are the toughest competitors in Racketlon globally?

Vikram: There are many strong teams. The UK is very strong, Germany is very strong, and the Netherlands is also strong. I think most European countries are very strong in Racketlon.

India has just started emerging, but we have had some excellent players. Ashutosh Sir has won championships in his category. We have Siddharth, who has played really well. There is a new player, Raghav, who is under 19 and doing really well. He could be a future star.

You come from a badminton background and also run an academy in Udaipur. Tell us about that.

Vikram: Badminton is my first love. I played for India in the World University Championship in 2012, but then I suffered an injury and could not continue at the same level. Badminton is growing very well in India. We have great mentors like Prakash Padukone, Pullela Gopichand and Vimal Kumar. Players like PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, Parupalli Kashyap and Lakshya Sen are inspiring the next generation.

I have six badminton courts in the city, and we are doing well with young players. I believe badminton has a great future, and India will continue to win medals.

Finally, how do you see the future of Racketlon in India?

Vikram: The sport has a very good future. We have had strong players in the past, like Ashutosh and Siddharth. We now have upcoming players like Sohail, Nidhi, and young talents like Raghav. India has the talent, and I am sure we will win more medals in Racketlon in the future.

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