Who We Are

  • Lithuanian Pickleball Federation is the governing body for pickleball in Lithuania.
  • Lithuanian Pickleball Federation is a member of the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF) and European Pickleball Federation (EPF).
  • Founded in 2021, LPF is a non-profit organization whose volunteers and professionals support the mission.

Board of Directors

Svajūnas Masilionis

President – Svajūnas Masilionis

  • Born, raised, and started a family in Panevėžys. Moved to Chicago in 1996.
  • Owner of the logistics company „Unlimited Group” based in Chicago.
  • Actively involved in the Lithuanian expatriate sports scene since arriving in the USA. Founder of the Chicago Lithuanian Basketball and Soccer Leagues. Leads the non-profit organization „Žalgiris,” supporting Lithuanian sports projects abroad.
  • Married. Wife Arenida, two adult sons – Modestas and Edvinas.
  • In November 2020, the World Lithuanian Center in Lemont, Chicago, started inviting compatriots to play pickleball.
  • Founded the Lithuanian Pickleball Federation in the summer of 2021.


LPF Board

• Svajūnas Masilionis • Andrius Vaičiulis • Andrius Bielskis • Lina Padegimaitė • Kestutis Mačiulskis • Mantas Paulauskas • Vilius Vaitkevičius •

Mission

To introduce, support, and popularize the sport of pickleball to people across Lithuania and worldwide.

Main activities:

  • Advertising pickleball
  • Organizing and managing Lithuanian National Team
  • Organizing training programs for children and youth
  • Providing instruction and conducting seminars for players, coaches, and officials
  • Informing the Lithuanian pickleball community about the sport’s development
  • Organizing tournaments and other competitions
  • Coordinating the calendar for tournaments and other events
  • Developing pickleball infrastructure in Lithuania

Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, Washington, USA. Three men, Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum, are recognized as the game’s founders. In recent years – pickleball became a very popular sport worldwide.

Pickleball one of racquet sports, combining elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It’s fast-paced, easy to learn, and incredibly fun to play due to extended rallies that occur during the game. Pickleball is typically played as a doubles match, although singles matches are also very popular and challenging for players seeking more intensity.