SIBU: The inaugural Sarawak Inter-Divisional Under-18 Pickleball Championship will be held this Sunday at the SMI Pickleball Centre here.
It is organised by the Sibu Pickleball Association, endorsed by the Sarawak Pickleball Association and supported by the Sarawak Education Department.
The championship will feature six teams representing five divisions — Sibu, Kuching, Miri, Bintulu and Sarikei — marking a significant milestone in the development of youth pickleball in Sarawak.
Sibu Pickleball Association president and Bukit Assek assemblyman Chieng Jin Ek recently presented the association’s flag to team manager and deputy president Daniel Iing Shii Ngie, officially sending off the Sibu contingent while encouraging the players to compete with determination, sportsmanship and pride.
As hosts, Sibu will field two teams.
The Sibu Elite Team will be led by head coach Bosco Wong Sye Ping, assisted by Hii Ka Sin, while the Sibu Rising Team will be coached by Pau Chiong Shii, with Chiew Ya Chin serving as assistant coach. Both teams comprise outstanding secondary school players selected from the Sibu inter-secondary schools pickleball competition held earlier this month.
A welcome dinner will be held on Saturday evening, followed by the team managers’ meeting and the official group draw.
The tournament will adopt a two-group round-robin format, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the crossover semi-finals. The winners will progress to the final, while the losing semi-finalists will contest the third-place play-off.
Chieng said the inaugural championship is the first state-level inter-divisional Under-18 pickleball tournament in Sarawak, providing an excellent platform for young athletes to compete, gain valuable experience and build friendships while further promoting the sport among students across the state.
He noted that pickleball has grown rapidly in Sarawak in recent years, with more schools establishing clubs and increasing student participation.
He added that organising a state-level youth championship would strengthen the athlete development pathway and help nurture future players capable of representing Sarawak and Malaysia at higher levels of competition.
The Sibu Pickleball Association invites pickleball enthusiasts, teachers, students, parents and members of the public to attend the championship from 8 am on Sunday at the SMI Pickleball Centre here to support the young athletes and witness this historic milestone in the development of youth pickleball in Sarawak.
