In a bid to support the growing pickleball community in Ukraine, San Diego’s Anywhere Pickleball has teamed up with the Ukrainian Pickleball Federation (UPF) to launch the Freedom Fighter Paddle. This paddle, approved by USA Pickleball for competitive play, is designed to uplift Ukrainian players while honoring their national identity. Its unique design features the blue and yellow hues of the Ukrainian flag, along with the Leleka, a white stork, and the Tryzub, the trident emblem of Ukraine. Additionally, the paddle carries an inspirational line from renowned Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko, which translates to “Fight and you shall overcome.” This artistic creation is the work of Ukrainian artists Dasha Volkova and Andrii Voloshyn, who currently reside in the Netherlands.
Since June 2025, Anywhere Pickleball has been the first American strategic partner of the UPF, offering support to various Ukrainian pickleball events. One notable event was the First Ukrainian Veterans Pickleball Championship, held in Kyiv from March 31 to April 5, 2026. This tournament attracted 104 combat veterans from 20 different regions of Ukraine. The Freedom Fighter Paddle was not only the official paddle for the championship but was also awarded to the Fantastic Team recipients—two combat amputees from the Sumy region who earned a bronze medal together. Angus Wong, founder of Anywhere Pickleball, emphasized that the partnership embodies the company’s belief in the power of sports to aid communities impacted by war.
An innovative “Gift 1, Get 1” model is being employed with the Freedom Fighter Paddle. For each paddle purchased, Anywhere Pickleball donates a matching paddle to a Ukrainian player through the UPF. This initiative extends to corporate clients who may buy paddles in bulk for purposes such as employee gifts, client recognition, or corporate social responsibility projects. The distribution of these paddles helps to further the reach and development of pickleball within Ukraine.
Volodymyr Svirskii, President of the UPF, expressed optimism that the program will foster the growth of pickleball in Ukraine, while also motivating players to participate and excel. Anna Glotova, co-founder and Director of Strategic Partnerships at UPF, highlighted the potential of sports as a medium for connection and healing, particularly for those living with life-altering injuries. The Freedom Fighter Paddle is accessible for purchase online, and corporate inquiries can be directed to Anywhere Pickleball via email.
Legal Disclaimer:
The information contained in this article has been provided by independent third-party contributors, clients, or content partners. We do not independently verify the accuracy, completeness, legality, ownership, licensing, or reliability of submitted content, including text, images, videos, trademarks, or other media materials. The submitting party is solely responsible for ensuring that all content, including images and media assets, complies with applicable copyright, trademark, licensing, and intellectual property laws. We disclaim liability for any unauthorized use of copyrighted or proprietary materials by third parties. If you believe that any content published on this platform infringes your intellectual property rights, kindly contact the author above for prompt review and resolution.