Malaysian Youth Pickleball Stars Earn Berths at Hainan Regional Finals

Malaysian under-19 pickleball players earned berths to the PCL Asia Rising Stars Grand Finale on Hainan Island, China, after standout performances at the national sectional tournament held at Grand Pickleball Arena.

The sectional served as Malaysia's national Under-19 selection tournament and was organised by the Malaysia Chinese Assembly Hall (MCAH) Youth Division. MCAH said the tournament drew youth players from across the country, including Penang, Perak, Negri Sembilan, Melaka, Sabah and Sarawak, underscoring pickleball's growing appeal among young talent from diverse regions.

Malaysia's selection event formed part of a coordinated series of sectional tournaments held across Asia, with young athletes vying for places at the regional championship. The Rising Stars Finals will be held at the Asia Elite Pickleball Academy (AEPA), located at the Beijing Haidian Foreign Language Experimental School on Hainan Island. The event is scheduled for March 31 to April 6, 2026.

The qualifying pathway runs through the Pickleball Champions League's Rising Stars program, which is structured around mixed teams of four. The PCL Rising Stars provides a structured pathway for under-19 pickleball players, offering high-level competition, standardised equipment, and meaningful regional exposure, with teams composed of two male and two female players competing through national, regional, and provincial qualifiers to reach the Finals.

Preparation for the Hainan stage is already underway. The Malaysian representatives will undergo a series of structured training programmes, including a special camp from April 1 to 3, led by an international coaching team headed by professional player-coach James Ignatowich, who will provide advanced tactical and technical guidance. Coach Gee Ci Long will also accompany the team to China, offering on-site support throughout the tournament.

The support package for qualifying teams is substantial. Along with the qualification berth, the team received a US$1,000 development grant from the Asia Elite Pickleball Academy, as well as full support from PCL Asia for airfare, accommodation, and transportation. As part of the PCL Rising Stars pathway, the winning team and a select group of standout players from the Finals will also be eligible for scholarships to attend AEPA.

Outstanding performers at the Grand Finale stand a chance to train under the Asia Elite Pickleball Academy, gaining exposure to world-class coaching and high-level international training. MCAH said the Rising Stars initiative aimed to strengthen youth development in the sport while creating a pathway for players to gain international exposure.

Malaysia's sectional is one stop in a broader regional push. Japan's Pickleball Federation dispatched four U19 representatives to the same Hainan finals, while in the Philippines, Team Velaris, composed of Shesha Bree Biñas, Chrystelle Marjh Elisan, Izzy Lacida and Jacob Cagas, outlasted the SABR squad 23-21 in a thrilling finale at Pickletown to clinch the gold medal and a berth in the Asia Grand Finals. The breadth of participation signals that the PCL Asia Rising Stars has quickly taken shape as a credible regional proving ground for the continent's junior talent.