KUCHING: A key step in the push for pickleball’s inclusivity, unity, and eventual Olympic recognition was taken when Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen was elected to the inaugural Board of the Unified World Pickleball Federation (UWPF).
The announcement was made following the completion of international voting during the International Pickleball Federation’s Annual General Meeting on August 30, where the UWPF’s first-ever Board of Directors was confirmed.
The seven-member Board spans representatives from seven countries across three continents, with Asia securing four seats – underlining the region’s growing influence in the world of pickleball.
The inaugural UWPF Board members are Rika Riordan (Japan), Allen Zeng (China), Jimmy Tan (Asia), Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen (Malaysia), Miguel Montaño Freire (Spain), Giulia Soresina (Italy) and Kim Janice Wagner (South Africa).
Dr Yii, in a Facebook post, described his election as both a personal honour and a breakthrough for Malaysia and Sarawak on the global stage.
“It is a true honour to represent Malaysia and Sarawak on the inaugural UWPF Board. Pickleball has grown from humble beginnings in Miri to becoming one of the fastest-rising sports in our nation.
“As part of the Board, I will work tirelessly to ensure that every country has a voice, that our sport is inclusive and accessible, and that together we take bold steps toward Olympic recognition. Malaysia is ready to play its part in this global journey,” he wrote.
The Malaysia Pickleball Association also hailed the development as a historic milestone.
Its president, Farrell Choo Kah Thiam, congratulated Dr Yii in a social media post.
“On August 30, 2025, the Unified World Pickleball Federation elected its first-ever Board of Directors, and Malaysia is on the global stage!
“Congratulations to Dr Kelvin Yii from Sarawak for being elected into the inaugural Board of Directors.
“This is a proud milestone for Malaysia and Sarawakians, as we help shape the future of pickleball worldwide, and work towards the Olympic dream,” Choo said.
The statement further noted that while this is a historic moment for Malaysia – whose pickleball landscape is among the world’s most active and passionate – the selection of this Board is also a watershed moment for the sport in general.
“Long fragmented and in search of a unified identity, the International Pickleball Federation is working double time to change all that – and the creation of the UWPF is a step in that direction for sure,” the post read.
