Sibu pushes pickleball to the fore

The Star

07-05-2025

Chieng (fifth from left) presenting the SMK Sacred Heart pickleball club flag to the school's senior assistant for co-curricular activities, Lau Tiew Kiong (fifth from right).
Sibu Pickleball Association (SPA) is promoting the sport by building a pickleball stadium and holding its first inter-secondary school competition.
These steps are part of a mission to nurture local talent and grassroots development.
Association president Joseph Chieng announced RM3.05mil had been allocated under the Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) for phase one of the stadium project – Bukit Lima Sports Arena.
This will feature 10 indoor pickleball courts.
An additional RM2mil has been set aside for phase two that is slated to start in 2026.
'Sibu Municipal Council, as the implementing agency, is in the process of appointing consultants.
'Once finalised, the design and site application will commence soon after,' said Chieng who is also Bukit Assek assemblyman.
He shared this update during the setting up of pickleball clubs in 11 schools in the Sibu district.
The schools are SMK Methodist, SMK Sacred Heart, SMK Bukit Assek, SMK St Elizabeth, SMK Tung Hua, SMK Deshon, SMK Sungai Merah, SMK Bandar Sibu, Catholic High School, SM Wong Nai Siong, and Woodlands International School.
Chieng said the initiative was part of the association's two-pronged mission.
They aim to set up pickleball clubs as part of co-curricular programmes in schools, and to build more courts to support the sport's long-term growth.
Students participating in these clubs will be awarded co-curricular activity points.
'SPA is working towards this mission step by step, with commitment and collaboration from all stakeholders,' said Chieng.
He said SPA was set to host the Sibu Inter-Secondary School Pickleball Competition in early September, in collabora- tion with the Sibu Division Education Office.
The tournament is expected to become an annual event to cultivate camaraderie, sportsmanship and a talent pipeline.
'Through the competition, we can select potential Sibu and Sarawak junior players respectively for the future Sukan Sarawak and Sukan Malaysia,' he added.
Chieng also highlighted growing support from local community organisations.
Catholic High School Alumni Association has already built three courts in the school's premises.
Meanwhile, Sibu Methodist Schools Alumni Association also plans to build three courts at SMK Methodist.
'At the same time, I would like to urge more school boards and alumni associations to assist in the building of pickleball courts at their respective schools,' Chieng said.
This support, he said, was crucial in creating an environment where students could actively train and excel in pickleball.
Sibu Education officer Ahli Chikba called on those involved in the sport to work together to promote the sport.
'We are working together with teachers and students to make Sibu the champion in the game,' he said.