Vave Singapore Launches World’s First Pickleball Playcation in Penang

Vave Singapore staged what organisers described as the world’s first Pickleball Playcation in Penang, melding competitive amateur play with an all-in travel package to attract families and visiting players. The main tournament took place on 30-31 January 2026 at D’Plazza Mall, Jalan Mahsuri, Bayan Baru, Penang, with event materials also using the alternative spelling D'Piazza Mall.

Thirteen regional teams entered the team-format competition, which required a minimum of eight players per squad including two women. The game format allowed one male and one female player to repeat once in a different category, and the event used a Main Draw and a secondary Vave Draw - with pre-quarter, quarter, semi final and final rounds scheduled throughout 31 January. Vave Life’s itinerary shows match windows beginning at 09:30 on 30 January for Group 1 and 2, staged group play through the afternoon, and knockout stages on 31 January culminating in finals at 16:30 and prize distribution at 17:30 followed by a gala dinner.

Package holders followed a four-day itinerary that began with arrivals and hotel check-in on 29 January at 15:00 and concluded with sightseeing and airport transfers on 1 February. Inclusions for package holders included hotel accommodation, local transportation with buses to and from the venue, entry into all playing categories, goodie bags and food coupons, organised sightseeing and gala dinners. Vave also supported a table tennis tournament at the Penang Table Tennis Center from 31 January to 1 February, demonstrating the platform’s multi-sport ambitions.

Vave positions itself as a mobile app and integrated tournament management platform - Vave.Life - that handles participant registration, tracks match results, displays rankings, and preserves match history. Bernama described the launch as the debut of Vave in Penang and framed the Playcation as a family sports vacation; Vave Singapore’s Benny Gan added: “This Playcation approach is designed to appeal to families, amateur athletes, and sports enthusiasts seeking an engaging and memorable travel experience in Penang while enjoying the excitement of competitive pickleball.”

Beyond the immediate event, the Playcation model blends sports tourism and grassroots competition in a way that could accelerate pickleball’s foothold across Asia. By packaging travel logistics, leisure activities and a managed tournament experience, Sports League Pte Ltd and Vave offer organisers a replicable template for monetising amateur events while giving families a reason to travel. With Visit Malaysia 2026 referenced alongside this staging, the model may also feed national tourism aims and expand opportunities for regional sporting exchanges. For media enquiries, Bernama’s press contacts listed in the original release include general lines +603 2631 1000 / +603 2693 9933 and PR/MREM services +603 2631 1123.