SIBU: The Sibu Pickleball Association (SPA) recently held its Annual General Meeting (AGM), where the new committee for the second term (2026–2027) was successfully elected.
Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng Jin Ek was re-elected as president. He is also one of the founding members of the SPA.
Established on Jan 12, 2024, SPA has been actively promoting the development of pickleball.
It currently comprises seven affiliates, namely Lanang, Dudong, Bukit Assek, Pelawan, Iplay Swan Squad, Mighty Titan and Smashkin Blaze Pickleball Clubs.
Chieng said that in terms of youth development, the SPA successfully initiated the formation of pickleball clubs in 11 secondary schools across Sibu District on April 30 last year, along with equipment sponsorship.
These schools include 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. SMK Agama Sibu and SM Kiang Him later joined the initiative.
In addition, SPA successfully organised what is likely Malaysia’s first inter-secondary school pickleball tournament: the 2025 Sibu Division Inter-Secondary School Pickleball Championship, held from Sept 5 to 6 last year at the SMI Pickleball Centre.
The tournament attracted 16 teams from 13 secondary schools. Catholic High School emerged as champion, followed by Woodlands International School as first runner-up, SMK Tung Hua (Team A) as second runner-up, and SMK Deshon as third runner-up.
The AGM also endorsed that the second edition of the Sibu Division Inter-Secondary School Pickleball Championship will be held from July 4 to 5, 2026 at the SMI Pickleball Centre, with the support and recognition of the Sibu District Education Office.
At the same time, Chieng said the SPA has received endorsement from the Sarawak Pickleball Association to organise the inaugural Sarawak U18 inter-division Pickleball Championship, tentatively scheduled for July 25 to 26, 2026.
He pointed out that in terms of Pickleball personnel development, the Association organised a Level 1 Certified Coaches Course on June 7 last year, training a total of 34 participants, including attendees from Kuching and Sarikei.
“On infrastructure development, the SPA is actively advancing the Bukit Lima Pickleball Arena project. Under my leadership and initiative, the project will feature a two-storey complex comprising eight pickleball courts. I have allocated RM5.8 million Rural Transformation Project (RTP) funding for the phase 1 construction.
“At present, the project has received support from the Sibu Municipal Council and the Sarawak Sports Corporation. It has also been approved at the Sibu Divisional Development Committee Siting Meeting chaired by Sibu Resident and has been submitted to the Sarawak Land and Survey Department for final siting approval.
“Upon completion of this process, it will proceed to the approval stages of the Sarawak Government Building Design Committee (SBDC) and the Sarawak Planning Authority, paving the way for early implementation.”
Chieng added that the SPA will continue to focus on youth development, training of coaches and referees, and infrastructure development, with the aim of positioning Sibu as a key hub for pickleball development in Sarawak.
Meanwhile, the other 2026–2027 SPA’s exco committee are iing Shii Ngie as the deputy president; Ngu Koh Kit (vice-president); Kiing Teck Ho (secretary-general); and Chieng Li Jie (honorary treasurer).
The other committee members are Daniel Lim Chuong Wei, Lo Ming Jun and Wong Sye Ping.
