Anywhere Pickleball, a company based in San Diego, has teamed up with the Ukrainian Pickleball Federation (UPF) to launch the Freedom Fighter Paddle, a paddle approved by USA Pickleball for competitive play. This collaboration aims to support pickleball players in Ukraine. The paddle’s design features the blue and yellow colors of the Ukrainian flag, alongside national symbols like the Leleka, or white stork, and the Tryzub, Ukraine’s trident emblem. It also includes a line from Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko that translates to “Fight and you shall overcome.” The artistic design was crafted by Ukrainian artists Dasha Volkova and Andrii Voloshyn, who are currently based in the Netherlands.
Since June 2025, Anywhere Pickleball has been the UPF’s first strategic partner from the United States, supporting various Ukrainian pickleball events. One notable event was the First Ukrainian Veterans Pickleball Championship held in Kyiv from March 31 to April 5, 2026, which gathered 104 combat veterans from 20 different regions of Ukraine. During this championship, the Freedom Fighter Paddle was the official paddle and was also awarded to the Fantastic Team recipients, two combat amputees from the Sumy region who secured a bronze medal.
Angus Wong, the founder of Anywhere Pickleball, expressed that the partnership reflects the company’s belief in sport as a means to support war-affected communities. The Freedom Fighter Paddle is part of a “Gift 1, Get 1” model, where each purchased paddle leads to an identical one being donated to a pickleball player in Ukraine via the UPF. This initiative is also open to corporate customers who wish to purchase paddles in bulk for employee gifts, client recognition, or corporate social responsibility efforts, ensuring that matching paddles reach Ukrainian players through the same channel.
Volodymyr Svirskii, President of the UPF, remarked that this initiative could foster the development of pickleball in Ukraine, encouraging participation and achievements among players. Anna Glotova, UPF co-founder and Director of Strategic Partnerships, noted that sports can provide opportunities for connection and recuperation for individuals with life-altering injuries. The Freedom Fighter Paddle is available through their website and corporate inquiries can be directed to Anywhere Pickleball’s contact email.
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