Tennis legend Andre Agassi made his professional pickleball debut at the US Open Pickleball Championships in Florida this year, elevating the new-age sport that is having its moment globally. Other new sports rising the popularity charts include padel and Ironman triathlon, which are attracting people of all ages, especially those looking for sports that combine activity and socialising. Not just humans, robots are also taking to the arena, with 21 humanoids competing in a half-marathon in Beijing in April this year. In August, China even hosted an all-robots games with various sports being played.

Data from the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP) suggest that the US alone is estimated to have nearly 50 million adults volleying a ball over a 34-inch net between 2022 and 2023

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