KUCHING: Sarawak is set to house a landmark sporting event as the MATTA Malaysia Pickleball Grand Slam 2025 (MPG 2025) takes centre stage on October 7-20.
With an enticing RM100,000 prize pool up for grabs and over 1,350 participants estimated to join, the tournament to be held at PIKABOL Malaysia here promises to boost both competitive sports and tourism.
Describing the event as a game-changer, Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah highlighted its impact beyond the sport itself.
His speech, delivered by his deputy Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, underscored Malaysia’s growing presence on the international sports scene while positioning Sarawak as a premier tourism destination.
“By bringing together top international and local pickleball players, this event will not only elevate Malaysia’s profile in global sports but also attract inbound tourism.
“Visitors will have the chance to explore our breath-taking landscapes, diverse cultural heritage and world-class hospitality,” he noted in his speech at the MPG 2025 press conference in Baitulmakmur II here today.
He also acknowledged the relentless efforts of organisations such as the Malaysia Pickleball Association, Sarawak Pickleball Association, and Kuching Pickleball Association in driving the sport’s expansion.
Further solidifying the sport’s development, MATTA and the Malaysia Pickleball Association signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to foster long-term collaboration, strengthening pickleball’s footprint in Sarawak and across Malaysia.
Notable figures present at the press conference were MATTA president Nigel Wong, Sarawak Pickleball Association vice president Hafisz Rachman Drahman, and Kuching Pickleball Association president Ruslan Bujang.
