Pickleball in Asia News

Sports Commissioner Suspends Malaysia Pickleball Association Over Governance, Leadership Controversy

The Sports Commissioner suspended the Malaysia Pickleball Association under Act 576 on Feb 27, giving the MPA 30 days to explain why it should not be deregistered.

David Kumar•2 min read•10:35 PM

Read Full Article →

More News

News

Xun County (Hebi) turns heritage precinct into pickleball cultural-tourism festival

Xun County has repurposed its Ancient City and the 18th Central Plains Folk Culture Festival into a pickleball-focused cultural-tourism program, pairing the Shehuo Idol Group parade (Feb 17-Mar 2) with a US youth exchange.

David Kumar2m read

News

Singapore to build 50 islandwide badminton and pickleball courts in five years

Singapore will build 50 multipurpose badminton and pickleball courts islandwide over five years, including eight already open at The Kallang and eight more due at Little India Bus Terminal.

Tanya Okafor3m read

News

Cebuana Lhuillier Signs MOA to Field Gems in PYCL Inaugural Season

Cebuana Lhuillier signed an MOA to field the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems in the Pickle Yard Conference League; roster includes tennis icon Johnny Arcilla and six-player rotation rules.

David Kumar2m read

Analysis

PWR Global unified rankings set to reshape Asia's competitive pickleball landscape

PWR Global says players can accumulate points on a PWR World Tour across different regions to qualify for the PWR World Series, with events categorised into various tiers.

Tanya Okafor2m read

News

Johns, Tardio, Christian Lead Record Pro Field at MB Hanoi Cup

PPA Tour Asia confirmed a record pro field for the MB Hanoi Cup at My Dinh Indoor Athletics Arena April 1-5, headlined by Ben Johns, Gabriel Tardio and Kaitlyn Christian.

Chris Morales3m read

News

Indonesia's Pickleball Federation Announces Short-Term Public Court Expansion at VATA Kemang

PB IPF announced a short-term expansion of public court access at VATA Courts in Kemang, with vice-chair Harlin Rahardjo leading a press visit on March 5, 2026.

Chris Morales2m read

News

Chinese Ambassador Xie Promotes Pickleball Diplomacy to Boost People-to-People Ties

Chinese Ambassador Xie Feng posted a Feb 24 video on X showing a 45-person U.S. teachers-and-students pickleball delegation that arrived in Shenzhen on Feb 15 for a ten-day exchange.

David Kumar2m read

News

Pickleball D-Joy Vietnam 2026 to Offer GPA Points, Yates Academy Boosts Development

Pickleball D-Joy Vietnam 2026 is set for March 19–22 at the D-Joy Nam Sài Gòn complex in Ho Chi Minh City; promotional copy also references GPA points and a Kyle Yates-led academy.

Tanya Okafor3m read

Games

Bengaluru Jawans beat Mumbai Pickle Power 4-1, finish top, reach WPBL semis

Bengaluru Jawans beat Mumbai Pickle Power 4-1 to finish top of the WPBL table; Jack Foster opened with a 26-10 men’s singles win over Brandon Lane.

David Kumar2m read

News

Chennai Pickleball Boom Fueled by Midnight Games and WhatsApp Groups

Midnight pickleball sessions and WhatsApp groups of 40-100 players have turned Winkin courts in Injambakkam and Anna Nagar into Chennai's newest social and business hubs.

Chris Morales2m read

News

PPA Tour Asia Launches Super Fan Pass Awarding Courtside Access, Free Entry

One fan will receive all-season VIP access, exclusive PPA Asia merch and one free tournament registration after PPA Tour Asia launched its Super Fan Pass on March 4, 2026.

Tanya Okafor2m read

Analysis

Why Gen-4 Foam-Core Paddles Matter and What Asian Clubs Should Test

Selkirk Project 008, CRBN TruFoam and Joola Scorpeus IV are examples of Gen-4 foam-core paddles promising bigger sweet spots, less core crushing and engineered weight distribution, test them at club demo days.

Chris Morales3m read

News

JOOLA Unveils Pro V Paddle Collection Featuring Patent-Pending KineticFrame Technology

JOOLA launched the Pro V collection March 3 with a patent-pending KineticFrame throat insert and promised pre-orders that opened February 24 and “in hands” availability March 3.

Chris Morales3m read

Trades

Hanoi’s Quang Duong Rejoins APP Tour, Touted as Asia’s No.1

Hanoi native Quang Duong, 20 and ranked Asia’s No.1 by DUPR, has signed a professional contract to rejoin the APP Tour, announced by APP on March 3, 2026.

Tanya Okafor2m read

News

World No. 1 Waters Eyes PPA Asia Debut as Tour Announces Slate

World No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters has signalled she may play PPA Tour Asia, as the tour unveils a 2026 slate beginning with the MB Hanoi Cup (April 1-5, $300,000).

Tanya Okafor3m read

Trades

First Japanese MLP Player Yuta Funamizu Re-signs with Miami for 2026

Yuta Funamizu, 32 and a former soft-tennis world champion, re-signed with Miami Pickleball Club for the 2026 Major League Pickleball season, announced at a March 3, 2026 press conference.

David Kumar2m read

News

Philippine Pickleball Federation launches national registry and 12-month rankings

The Philippine Pickleball Federation launched the Philippine Pickleball Participant Registry at registry.pickleball.ph, issuing unique national player IDs and powering a 12-month rolling national ranking system.

Tanya Okafor2m read

News

How to convert courts for pickleball and keep neighbors happy

A practical checklist helps facilities convert tennis or basketball courts into dual-use pickleball venues while reducing conflict and protecting surfaces.

Jamie Taylor2m read

News

Practical paddle guide helps Asian clubs and players choose gear

A clear paddle-selection primer breaks down shape, core, face, weight and grip to match play styles and support club buying or loaner programs.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Games

Choosing the right paddle can transform your pickleball game

Your first paddle affects comfort, injury risk and how fast you learn. Prioritise control and ergonomics, demo before buying, and match weight to your play style.

Jamie Taylor3m read

News

Kosmas Pickle Fest 2026 Cebu Hosts PCL U19 Sectional for Hainan Berths

Cebu will stage Kosmas Pickle Fest 2026 at the Net and Paddle courts March 11-15, with the PCL Rising Stars U19 Sectional awarding berths to the PCL Asia Grand Finals on Hainan Island in April.

Chris Morales3m read

News

Pickleball's Asian Boom Places Region at Center of Growth

New global estimates put roughly 22 million active pickleball players worldwide and between 80 and 120 million people who have tried the sport at least once. Asia’s scale, including a UPA Asia finding that 812 million people across the region have played at least once and an estimated 60 million players in China, positions the region as the primary growth opportunity for clubs, equipment makers, and tour promoters.

Jamie Taylor2m read

News

APBA Pickleball Open Sunland Station launches March 6–8, 500 players, brand market

APBA Pickleball Open Shanghai League - Sunland Station opened March 6 at Sunland Pickleball Park, with matches running through March 8 and a secondary site at Linli Park.

Chris Morales2m read

News

PPA Tour Asia Unveils 2026 Calendar Including Macao Open May 27-31

PPA Tour Asia has a live Macao Open event page listing Macao, Macao China and late-May dates; calendar releases list the stop as either May 27–31 or May 28–31, creating a date discrepancy to resolve.

Tanya Okafor3m read

Games

Rajanvir Singh Dharni rallies to beat Arunav Vaish 5-11, 11-9, 11-2

Rajanvir Singh Dharni came from a set down to beat Arunav Vaish 5-11, 11-9, 11-2 and claim the Men’s Singles 19+ title at the PickleSpin PWR50 Cup in Kanpur.

Tanya Okafor2m read

Games

Vaishnavi Lodhi Unbeaten to Take PickleSpin PWR50 Women's Singles Title

Vaishnavi Lodhi finished the PickleSpin PWR50 Cup in Kanpur unbeaten, beating Kanushree Garg 11-7, 11-2 to claim the Women’s Singles 19+ crown on March 1, 2026.

Chris Morales2m read

News

UPA Asia Launches Season 2 Trailblazers Program and Pathway Playbook

Eight Trailblazers and eight Rising Stars were named for UPA Asia Season 2 Class of 2026, with USA immersion, pro contracts for 2025-2026, and a December Infinity Academy camp as the proving ground.

Chris Morales3m read

News

PickleSlam 2026 in Singapore Hosts Inaugural PPA Asia 125 Stop

PickleSlam 2026 in Singapore will host the inaugural PPA Asia 125 stop April 11–19, offering winners up to 125 PPA points, a minimum US$10,000 prize pool per stop, and free entry to the next PPA Asia 500.

Chris Morales2m read

News

Asian Players Face DUPR Reset March 16 to May 17, $34.99 Fee

DUPR Reset runs March 16–May 17, 2026; players pay $34.99, must submit Reset-period matches by May 20, and will keep whichever rating is higher.

David Kumar3m read