Latest news with #BorneoPickleballWorkshopandForum
The Star
19-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
First pickleball instructor course held in Sibu
Choo (holding paddle) conducting the instructor course, which he says will help build a stronger pickleball coaching community in the region. Malaysia Pickleball Association (MPA) conducted its first Central Zone Level 1 Certified Instructor course in Sibu, marking a milestone in the development of the sport in Sarawak. This initiative, hosted by Sibu Pickleball Association (SPA), drew 34 enthusiastic participants, including two delegates from Kuching and four from Sarikei. Presiding over the course at SMK Sacred Heart was MPA president Farrell Choo, who led the training and assessments. Choo said the programme not only served as a platform to enhance technical knowledge and coaching skills, but also as a strategic step towards building a stronger coaching community in Sabah and Sarawak. Participants who complete the course will be officially recognised as Level 1 Certified Instructors, enabling them to contribute to the sport's growth at grassroots and school levels. Expressing his gratitude, SPA president Joseph Chieng said, 'We are thankful to MPA for its unwavering support. 'Hosting this course in Sibu empowers our local players and educators to take on leadership roles within the sport.' Chieng said SPA aimed to continue collaborating with national and state-level bodies to organise further professional development programmes and tournaments, positioning Sibu as an emerging hub for pickleball activities in Sarawak. Meanwhile, some 200 to 300 participants from across Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo are expected to take part in Borneo Pickleball Workshop and Forum on Aug 27 and 28 in Sibu. The inaugural event will be organised by iPlay Swan Squad Pickleball Club (iPSS) with full backing from Business Events Sarawak, which aims to promote the development of pickleball in Borneo, especially in Sarawak. iPSS president Dr Wong Chya Wei said the forum represented a vital step towards building a stronger and more structured pickleball community in the region. 'This is more than just a forum. It's a movement to raise the profile of pickleball. 'We anticipate coaches, educators, club organisers and the public joining in,' he said at a press conference. Dr Wong said one of the event highlights would be a dialogue session featuring representatives from Sarawak Sports Council, MPA and pickleball court operators. Other activities on the agenda include specialist talks on flooring, seminars on sports injuries and rehabilitation, as well as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) workshops, which will be offered free to the public. There will also be a referee workshop for those interested in becoming officials or line judges, besides an exhibition area focusing on pickleball gear, court construction solutions, booking systems, and sporting equipment. 'Junior players will showcase a match on a specially prepared court set up within a hotel ballroom – the first of its kind in Malaysia. 'We invite people from all backgrounds to join us, especially those with experience in racquet sports like tennis, badminton, table tennis and squash, as transitioning to pickleball is straightforward and enjoyable. 'As an extra incentive, the first 100 registrants will be treated to a complimentary sunset river cruise on Aug 27,' he added.
Borneo Post
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Borneo Post
Sibu to stage Borneo Pickleball Forum in August
Stakeholders for the upcoming forum pose with (seated from left) Tan, Ting, Dr Wong and Tian yesterday. SIBU (June 8): The first ever Borneo Pickleball Workshop and Forum will be held over two days from Aug 27 at Kingwood Hotel here with an expected attendance of 200 to 300 participants. This was announced by Iplay Swan Squad Pickleball Club (IPSS) president Dr Wong Chya Wei who highlighted it as a landmark event for the development of pickleball. 'This forum marks a significant step forward in growing the sport across the region by bringing together thought leaders, experts and passionate advocates of pickleball. 'We are targeting not only participants from Sarawak but also those from Sabah and Semananjung,' he told a press conference here yesterday. Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng will officiate at the event on Aug 27. Wong also thanked BE Sarawak (Business Events Sarawak) for its support in making the event a reality. The two-day forum will feature a panel dialogue and sharing session with speakers from Sarawak Sports Council, Malaysia Pickleball Association, Courtsite (court operation and management provider) and other experienced court operators. 'We will have a seminar on sports Injuries and rehabilitation, providing practical insights into injury prevention and recovery, vital knowledge for players and coaches alike. 'There will also be a workshop on CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and AED (Automated External Defibrillators), open to the general public from all walks of life… and we highly encourage group bookings for communities, associations and institutions,' said Wong. There will also be a referee workshop to address the need for more trained referees and linesmen with the growing number of pickleball tournaments and new clubs forming in schools. Furthermore, an exhibition space will feature solutions for court construction, systems for reserving courts, pickleball paddles available for purchase and demonstration, and merchandise like sportswear, bags and shoes. A demonstration court will be set up inside the ballroom, offering paddle testing and a special exhibition game by junior players. 'As a special token, the first 100 paying participants will enjoy a complimentary Sunset River Cruise on Aug 27,' added Wong. Also in attendance at yesterday's press conference were BE Sarawak business development senior manager, Donny Tan, IPSS secretary Cr Jenny Ting and Selkirk Malaysia sales manager Benjamin Tian who is also IPSS vice president and coach.
