SIBU: The Sibu U18 Pickleball Team intensified its preparations for the upcoming inaugural 2026 Sarawak U18 Inter-Divisional Pickleball Championship with a competitive friendly against players from KALIWA Pickleball Club at the Foo Kui Road Pickleball Court here on Friday night (July 17).
Organised by the Sibu Pickleball Association (SPA), the friendly formed part of the association’s structured competition preparation programme, embracing a “training through competition” approach aimed at exposing players to match-like conditions before the state-level tournament.
More than just a warm-up fixture, the encounter challenged the young players to test tactical combinations, sharpen decision-making under pressure and strengthen on-court communication while gaining valuable competitive experience against quality opposition.
SPA President Joseph Chieng Jin Ek, who is also Bukit Assek assemblyman, said meaningful match exposure is an essential component in preparing athletes for major tournaments, as it helps bridge the gap between training sessions and actual competition.
He expressed his appreciation to KALIWA Pickleball Club for its willingness to collaborate in the friendly, describing the partnership as an important contribution towards youth sports development.
“Competitive matches like this provide our players with opportunities to learn from one another, raise their standard of play and build confidence before representing Sibu at the divisional championship,” he said.
Chieng added that the association remains committed to expanding opportunities for competitive play and quality training to ensure the Sibu squad enters the championship fully prepared.
“We will continue creating platforms that challenge and develop our young athletes. We hope they will perform to the best of their abilities and make Sibu proud,” he said.
The inaugural 2026 Sarawak U18 Inter-Divisional Pickleball Championship will take place on July 26 at the SMI Pickleball Arena here.
Organised by SPA with the support of the Sarawak Education Department and the Sarawak Pickleball Association, the championship will bring together outstanding young pickleball players from divisions across Sarawak to compete for honours while celebrating sportsmanship, teamwork and the continued growth of the sport among the state’s youth.
