A San Diego company, Anywhere Pickleball, is collaborating with the Ukrainian Pickleball Federation (UPF) to launch a new paddle called the Freedom Fighter Paddle. This paddle is approved by USA Pickleball for competitive play and aims to aid pickleball enthusiasts in Ukraine. The paddle’s design prominently features elements of Ukraine’s national identity, including its flag colors of blue and yellow, the Leleka or white stork, and the Tryzub, a trident symbol emblematic of Ukraine. Additionally, it includes a motivational line from the renowned Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko, which translates to “Fight and you shall overcome.” The creative design was crafted by Ukrainian artists Dasha Volkova and Andrii Voloshyn, who currently reside in the Netherlands.
Since June 2025, Anywhere Pickleball has been the UPF’s inaugural American strategic partner, offering support for a variety of Ukrainian pickleball initiatives. Among these was the First Ukrainian Veterans Pickleball Championship, hosted in Kyiv from March 31 to April 5, 2026. This significant event gathered together 104 combat veterans from across 20 regions of Ukraine. The Freedom Fighter Paddle not only served as the official paddle for this championship but was also awarded to the Fantastic Team, which included two combat amputees from the Sumy region who triumphantly secured a bronze medal together.
Angus Wong, the founder of Anywhere Pickleball, emphasized that the partnership with UPF highlights the company’s belief in the power of sports as a tool for community support, particularly for those affected by conflict. This initiative includes a unique “Gift 1, Get 1” model where each paddle purchased results in a matching paddle being donated to a Ukrainian pickleball player via the UPF. This model extends to corporate orders, where businesses can purchase paddles in bulk for purposes such as employee gifts or client recognition, with the corresponding paddles being similarly distributed to Ukrainian players.
Volodymyr Svirskii, the president of UPF, expressed optimism that the initiative could bolster the growth of pickleball in Ukraine while inspiring participation and success among its players. Anna Glotova, UPF’s co-founder and Director of Strategic Partnerships, noted the vital role that sports can play in fostering connections and aiding recovery for individuals dealing with life-altering injuries. The Freedom Fighter Paddle is available for purchase on their website, and corporate inquiries can be directed 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.