KUCHING: Pickleball is thriving in Sarawak, with Bandar Kuching Member of Parliament Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen driving efforts to make the state as Malaysia’s pickleball powerhouse through events and youth training.
Originating in the United States, pickleball first arrived in Malaysia through Miri, marking Sarawak as the birthplace of the sport in the country.
Over the past two years, the sport has experienced a surge in popularity, and Yii is eager to position Sarawak as the leading pickleball hub in Malaysia.
“Pickleball holds a special place in Sarawak’s sports heritage, and I am proud to see its growth, especially in the past two years.
“This sport is inclusive, welcoming players of all backgrounds, young and old, and I believe we have the potential to excel in it.
“I hope to see Sarawak shine on the national stage, and it would be incredibly meaningful if we could win the first gold medal in pickleball at the upcoming SUKMA (Malaysia Games),”said Yii, highlighting Sarawak’s role as the birthplace of the sport.
To further promote the sport, Yii is working on organising a major pickleball competition in Kuching, scheduled for August.
He then said that details of the event will be announced soon, as he collaborates with key partners including a major organisation, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, led by Hannah Yeoh.
“I’m in discussions with a large organisation to put together the competition, and I am grateful for the support of Hannah.
“Together, we aim to make Kuching a true powerhouse for pickleball in Malaysia,” Yii told reporters when met at the PicklePro grand opening match showdown at PicklePro Kuching, Tabuan Laru today.
As part of his commitment to growing the sport, Yii is also organising free training sessions for young people here.
Moreover, he revealed that these sessions, fully sponsored by his office, will provide an opportunity for students to experience pickleball and receive basic coaching.
“The goal is to introduce this sport to students, particularly those aged 18 and below.
“Currently, most players are 20 and older, but I want to see a greater focus on engaging the younger generation,” he said.
By offering free training sessions, Yii hopes to inspire more youth to pick up the sport and develop their skills.
