Southampton is gearing up to host the first European Pickleball Team Championships.

The event will take place at Southampton Tennis Centre on November 23 and 24.

The European Pickleball Federation is hosting the competition, where top players from 24 countries will compete for the title of Champions of Europe.

The weekend will see matches in men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles categories.

Pickleball, a mix of badminton, table tennis, and tennis, is growing in popularity, with an estimated 35,000 active players and more than 630 venues in England.

Southampton-born James Chaudry, 33, will compete alongside other UK players against participants from countries such as Austria, France, and Spain.

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President of the European Pickleball Federation Frank Arico said: "We’re looking forward to hosting the European Pickleball Team Championships in Southampton.

"This historic event will be the first official European multiple national team event, with 24 of our participating countries selecting and entering their best players, so it’s set to be an incredible two days of competition.

"We’ll have 18 indoor pickleball courts full of play across the weekend, showcasing the best of our sport in Europe. We can’t wait to see who will be crowned champions."

The European Pickleball Championships will feature six events, with competitions for both open (any age) and senior (50 plus) categories.

Team England, led by coaches Sam Basford and Rob Williams, was announced last week and includes players like London’s Louis Laville, 29, and Hertfordshire’s Mollie Knaggs, 27, in the open category.