Dinking Divas 2026, Sri Lanka’s first-ever pickleball tournament exclusively for women, will be held on 20 and 21 June 2026 at the prestigious Colombo Pickle Club, Torrington Avenue, Colombo 07, aiming to inspire more women, particularly those over 40, to embrace one of the country’s fastest-growing sports.

Created to encourage greater female participation in one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, Dinking Divas will bring together women players from across the country for a weekend of competition, camaraderie and fun.

While pickleball continues to experience remarkable growth in Sri Lanka, female participation remains significantly lower than male participation, particularly among women over forty. Recognising this gap, tournament organisers Nayantara “Taru” Fonseka, Anusha Senadhira and Nilka Dabare came together under The Pickle Assembly banner to create an event designed specifically to encourage more women to take up the sport.

“Pickleball is a sport that welcomes everyone regardless of age, fitness level or sporting background,” said Anusha Senadhira. “We wanted to create a tournament where women could feel encouraged, supported and inspired to compete. We hope that Dinking Divas becomes a catalyst for growing women’s pickleball across Sri Lanka, especially among those who may feel it is too late to start a new sport.”

The tournament will feature doubles competition only, divided into four categories designed to celebrate players at every stage of their pickleball journey:

• Playful Divas – Beginners
• Precision Divas – Intermediate Players
• Power Divas – Advanced Players
• Timeless Divas – Women Aged 40 and Above

More than a tournament, Dinking Divas aims to build a vibrant community of women who support, encourage and challenge one another through sport. With a lively atmosphere, exciting matches and a strong emphasis on participation, friendship and healthy competition, the event promises to showcase the growing appeal of pickleball while highlighting the importance of creating more opportunities for women in sport.

The organisers hope Dinking Divas will become a bi-annual fixture on Sri Lanka’s sporting calendar and inspire more women of all ages to pick up a paddle, step onto a court and discover the joy of pickleball. For tournament updates, player highlights and future events, follow @thepickleassembly on Instagram.

The Pickle Assembly is dedicated to growing pickleball across Sri Lanka through tournaments, coaching programmes and community initiatives that make the sport accessible, inclusive and enjoyable for players of all ages and abilities. “ In Colombo, our venue partners are Colombo Pickle Club, Air Sport, Grand Park Arena, Picklebee by 71 and of course our own three courts in Bentota, mainly built for Pickleball tourism, teaching the local community and our own staff the game of Pickleball!” says Taru Fonseka of Nyne Hotels.