Latest news with #pickleball
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Malaysia is fastest growing nation in Asia for pickleball, says organiser ahead of RM100,000 Kingtek International Tournament in Shah Alam
Malaysia is fastest growing nation in Asia for pickleball, says organiser ahead of RM100,000 Kingtek International Tournament in Shah Alam KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 — Pickleball is continuing its rapid rise in Malaysia, with another major international event — the Kingtek International Pickleball Tournament 2025 — set to take place this August. Scheduled to be held at the Grand Pickleball Arena (GPA) in Shah Alam, the tournament offers total prizes worth RM100,000 across the men's doubles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles categories. Kingtek founder Madam Truyen said the tournament aims to engage with the pickleball community in Malaysia and across Southeast Asia, while also providing a professional platform for regional athletes. Supporters, players and well wishers bouyant and excited for the upcoming tournament in GPA, Shah Alam. 'Malaysia is actually the fastest growing nation in Asia for pickleball. Just this month, Malaysia hosted the World Pickleball Asia Championships, and we want to continue the trend by organising our own tournament in the spirit of 'Sports for Prosperity',' she said. 'Our goal is to spread pickleball to the sports-loving community and also promote cultural exchange between different countries, especially with Vietnam,' she added. The tournament is open to all players aged 18 and above, regardless of nationality. Participants will be grouped based on skill level to ensure fair and competitive play. GPA was selected as the venue for its international-standard facilities. Winners in the Open category will receive RM5,000 and two premium K09 Kingtek paddles. Kingtek, a Vietnamese brand, is working towards becoming the top pickleball brand in Vietnam by 2030. It is also committed to developing the sport through community engagement, structured training programmes, and support for international tournaments. Kingtek's Madam Truyen is confident that pickleball will continue to grow exponentially in Malaysia. In addition to advanced paddles, Kingtek also offers pickleball balls, bags, grips, and hats for both men and women. The tournament is being organised in partnership with Baseline, a tech company that positions itself as Southeast Asia's leading app for competitive pickleball and tennis. Baseline specialises in international tournament organisation and player community management. 'This is a long-term strategy. By collaborating with Baseline, we have been able to host seamless, professionally run competitions while actively building a platform for pickleball competition in the region. They have been instrumental in providing technical support, management software, and international team connections,' she said. The total prize value is up to RM100,000, including cash rewards, Kingtek's premium paddles, trophies, and medals. Champions in the Intermediate and Novice divisions will receive cash prizes ranging from RM500 to RM3,000, along with K07 or K09 paddles, as well as silver and bronze medals. The registration deadline is August 10, 2025. Players may register by scanning the QR code on the tournament poster or through the Kingtek Pickleball Facebook fan page.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vulcan V-PRO FLIGHT Named Official Ball of DUPR
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) announced today that the Vulcan V-PRO FLIGHT is now the Official Ball of DUPR across all its verticals and events, including High School Pickleball, Collegiate Pickleball, Minor League Pickleball (MiLP), as well as more than 8000 DUPR clubs and facilities all over the world. Vulcan V-PRO FLIGHT Named Official Ball of DUPR This new partnership sets a standard across the sport, as all DUPR events and events operated by DUPR's partner leagues, tours, clubs and event organizers will be required to use the Vulcan V-PRO FLIGHT pickleball. This reinforces DUPR's commitment to consistency, quality, and the highest level of competitive integrity. "DUPR is built on accuracy and trust. We only align with partners who meet that standard," said Tito Machado, CEO of DUPR. "Vulcan has proven to be the best ball in the game, and this partnership raises the bar for every player who steps on the court." Vulcan's V-PRO FLIGHT technology is regarded as best-in-class, delivering elite performance, durability, and accuracy. Already trusted as the Official Ball of Major League Pickleball (MLP), Vulcan now strengthens its position as the leading brand in pickleball ball technology. "We're proud to become the Official Ball of DUPR," said Jeremy Nef, President of Vulcan Pickleball. "DUPR is the backbone of competitive pickleball, and this partnership reinforces our commitment to supporting players at every level — with the most advanced ball on the market." Together, DUPR and Vulcan are shaping the future of competitive pickleball. About Vulcan Vulcan Pickleball is the premier equipment brand in pickleball and the creators of the V-PRO FLIGHT pickleball. The V-PRO FLIGHT is the official ball of DUPR, High School Pickleball, Collegiate Pickleball, Minor League Pickleball, and Major League Pickleball. Trusted by recreational players and professional pickleball players alike, the V-PRO FLIGHT is "The Official Ball of Pickleball". Learn more at About DUPR DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) is the premier global pickleball rating system and technology platform, trusted by the world's leading clubs, tournaments, leagues, and players. DUPR's dynamic rating system unifies pickleball across age, gender, and location by analyzing match results to accurately evaluate all players across a 2.000 - 8.000 scale. DUPR is the official pickleball rating of leagues, tournaments and clubs around the world, including United Pickleball Association (UPA), PPA, Major League Pickleball (MLP), Life Time, The Picklr, National Team Pickleball League, National Pickleball League. It also owns and operates Minor League Pickleball and Collegiate Pickleball, two of the biggest amateur leagues in the sport. Players and operators can visit to sign up and learn more.
CBS News
4 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Highland Park hosting biggest pickleball lesson in hopes of breaking record
Highland Park is hosting what's being called the biggest pickleball lesson in the hopes of breaking a world record on Monday. The Park District of Highland Park is hosting over 400 pickleball participants at Danny Cunniff Park. The park district is partnering with the Chicago Slice professional pickleball team and Mark Miller's Munchkin Programs for the world record attempt. Miller set the world record of 300 pickleball lesson participants in Scottsdale, Arizona, back in 2023. In 2024, Miller set a record for The World's Largest Tennis Lesson, gathering 400 kids. "We're going to do it, 444 kids today," Miller said. "It's a record." "The Park District is excited to be a part of this historic event to break a world record and promote youth involvement in the game of pickleball," said Nick Baird, Director of Recreation for the Park District of Highland Park. "We are seeing a huge increase in youth and young adult participation in our own pickleball lessons and programs. Pickleball is a great sport for kids because it is a fun, active game that promotes fitness, coordination, and teamwork."
Reuters
6 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Top-ranked Waters shines at ESPYs as pickleball steps into the spotlight
LOS ANGELES, July 19 (Reuters) - Pickleball phenom Anna Leigh Waters became the first athlete from her sport to attend the ESPY Awards, marking what she called a "super cool" milestone both for herself and the rapidly growing game. "It's amazing for me to be here, but also for the sport that I'm able to be here and represent pickleball," Waters told Reuters at the annual event that was held on Wednesday to celebrate the best in sports. "I'm the first pickleball athlete to be at the ESPYs, so it's an honor." Waters, 18, has emerged as one of pickleball's brightest prospects as the sport surges in popularity across the United States and beyond. She believes the game's accessibility is fuelling its rapid growth. "Everyone can play it," she said. "I say it's easy to learn, hard to master. Any age, anywhere around the world, people just love to play pickleball. So I think that's why it's so popular. Everybody can play with everybody." Waters, who turned pro at 12 years old, is on a 69-match winning streak in singles and has won 163 gold medals in her career, making her arguably one of the most dominant athletes in the world. She said she is on a mission to prove pickleball is more than just a backyard pastime for retirees. "What we're trying to show people is that it's a much younger sport and that it can be very competitive," she said. With pickleball's expansion into mainstream sports culture, Waters is already setting her sights on a bigger stage. "I hope pickleball will be in the Olympics. A lot of people are saying Australia," she said, referring to the 2032 Summer Games in Brisbane. "I'll be 25, so hopefully I'll be able to compete. That would be amazing. So looking forward to Australia for sure." As she mingled with some of the biggest names in sports, Waters reflected on pickleball's meteoric rise. "It's definitely blowing up. It is starting to snowball," she said. "Seeing it rise and being able to rise with it has been an experience I won't forget." Pickleball - a hybrid of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong - has exploded in popularity in recent years, experiencing 311% growth over the past three years, with attendance, sponsorships, and revenue all reflecting that remarkable surge.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Northallerton first tennis team lose at home to Boston Spa
Northallerton's first team suffered another defeat this week when they lost at home to Boston Spa. There were some really tight games, but the visitors had the edge. (Image: Supplied) After too many weeks of windy weather, we were blessed with blazing sunshine and calm conditions on Thursday evening when we ran a free pickleball session on our courts that now benefit from permanent bright yellow lines. We were pleased to welcome some new faces along with others who had enjoyed our previous open court sessions that ended at the end of June. Some tennis members also took the opportunity to have a go at the game, and everyone enjoyed the evening. (Image: Supplied)
