San Diego’s Anywhere Pickleball has collaborated with the Ukrainian Pickleball Federation (UPF) to launch the Freedom Fighter Paddle, a paddle sanctioned by USA Pickleball for competitive play. This initiative not only aims to enhance the sport’s profile but also supports Ukrainian pickleball players. The paddle’s design is steeped in Ukrainian symbolism, showcasing the national colors blue and yellow, the Leleka or white stork, and the Tryzub, Ukraine’s trident emblem. Additionally, it features a line from the esteemed Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko, translating to “Fight and you shall overcome.” This artistic vision was brought to life by Ukrainian artists Dasha Volkova and Andrii Voloshyn, currently residing in the Netherlands.
Since June 2025, Anywhere Pickleball has been the inaugural American strategic partner for the UPF, providing backing for Ukrainian pickleball events. Among these was the First Ukrainian Veterans Pickleball Championship, hosted in Kyiv between March 31 and April 5, 2026. This tournament saw participation from 104 combat veterans hailing from 20 different Ukrainian regions. Notably, the Freedom Fighter Paddle was the official paddle of the event and was awarded to the tournament’s Fantastic Team recipients, two combat amputees from the Sumy region who secured a bronze medal together. Angus Wong, the founder of Anywhere Pickleball, highlighted that this partnership mirrors the company’s belief in sport as a vehicle for supporting communities impacted by conflict.
The Freedom Fighter Paddle is part of a generous “Gift 1, Get 1” model. With each paddle purchased, a matching paddle is donated to a Ukrainian pickleball player via the UPF. This model extends to corporate buyers who purchase paddles for purposes such as employee gifts, client recognition, or corporate social responsibility programs. The corresponding paddles are distributed to Ukrainian players under the same arrangement. UPF President Volodymyr Svirskii expressed hope that this initiative would foster the growth of pickleball in Ukraine while promoting participation and achievement among players.
Anna Glotova, UPF co-founder and Director of Strategic Partnerships, emphasized the potential of sport to create avenues for connection and recovery, particularly for individuals living with life-changing injuries. The Freedom Fighter Paddle is available for purchase through their official website, and corporate inquiries can be directed to Anywhere Pickleball’s contact email.
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