Pickleball Eyes asia: Fastest-growing Sport Sets Sights on Massive Expansion
Pickleball, the racquet sport sweeping the United states, is now aggressively expanding into Asia, driven by the region’s large population and affinity for racquet sports. the United Pickleball Association (UPA),parent company to the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) and Major League Pickleball (MLP),sees Asia as a key market for global growth.
Asia’s Racket Sport Inclination drives Pickleball Growth
“Asia firstly is the most populous continent in the world and secondly, we’re really good at racket sports, whether that’s tennis, table tennis or badminton, ther’s really that natural affinity for the sport itself,” said Kimberly Koh, UPA Asia managing director.
Massive Growth Expected in Asia-Pacific
Bonafide Research forecasts a compound annual growth rate exceeding 24.5% for pickleball in the Asia-Pacific region from 2024 to 2029. Participation is Fueled by rising sports participation.
UPA Launches Program to Foster Asian Talent
The UPA launched the UPA Asia Trailblazers Program in 2025. This three-month initiative will provide selected players from Asia top-tier training at world-class facilities, mentorship from leading coaches and US professionals, and opportunities to compete in PPA Tour and MLP events.
PPA Tour Asia and MLP Asia Coming soon
The PPA Tour Asia is slated to begin in the second half of 2025, with discussions underway with several countries, including singapore, China, Vietnam, and Malaysia, to host events. MLP Asia will follow, providing additional opportunities for players to compete.
Celebrity Investment Boosts Pickleball’s Profile
The team-based MLP has attracted high-profile investors in the US like National Basketball Association star LeBron James and seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady. Their star power has thrust the sport in the spotlight.
Taiwanese Player Zoey Wang Notes the Accessibility of the Sport
Taiwanese player Zoey Wang, a PPA Tour medalist, attributes pickleball’s rapid growth in Asia to its low barriers to entry. “everyone is switching from tennis or badminton or ping pong, everyone’s trying to help it get better and better,” said the former tennis player, noting the increasing number of pickleball courts in countries like Vietnam and india.
Challenges Remain: fragmentation in Pickleball Landscape
Koh acknowledged that the sport faces challenges, notably the fragmented landscape with the PPA/MLP (under UPA) and the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP) Tour operating separately, resulting in no unified ranking system.
Olympics in the Future?
While the UPA is not an international sports federation and cannot directly push for Olympic inclusion, Koh hopes that globalizing the game will increase its recognition and perhaps lead to participation in major multi-sport events like the SEA, Asian, or Olympic Games.
Here are two PAA-related questions based on the article:
Pickleball Eyes Asia: fastest-growing Sport Sets Sights on Massive Expansion
Pickleball, the racquet sport sweeping the United states, is now aggressively expanding into Asia, driven by the region’s large population and affinity for racquet sports.the United Pickleball Association (UPA),parent company to the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) and Major League Pickleball (MLP),sees Asia as a key market for global growth.
Asia’s Racket Sport Inclination drives Pickleball Growth
“Asia firstly is the most populous continent in the world and secondly, we’re really good at racket sports, whether that’s tennis, table tennis or badminton, ther’s really that natural affinity for the sport itself,” said Kimberly Koh, UPA Asia managing director.
Massive Growth Expected in asia-Pacific
Bonafide Research forecasts a compound annual growth rate exceeding 24.5% for pickleball in the Asia-Pacific region from 2024 to 2029. Participation is Fueled by rising sports participation.
UPA launches program to Foster Asian Talent
the UPA launched the UPA Asia Trailblazers Program in 2025. This three-month initiative will provide selected players from Asia top-tier training at world-class facilities, mentorship from leading coaches and US professionals, and opportunities to compete in PPA Tour and MLP events.
PPA Tour Asia and MLP asia Coming soon
The PPA Tour Asia is slated to begin in the second half of 2025, with discussions underway with several countries, including singapore, China, Vietnam, and Malaysia, to host events. MLP Asia will follow, providing additional opportunities for players to compete.
Celebrity Investment Boosts Pickleball’s Profile
The team-based MLP has attracted high-profile investors in the US like National Basketball Association star LeBron James and seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady. Their star power has thrust the sport in the spotlight.
taiwanese Player Zoey Wang Notes the Accessibility of the Sport
Taiwanese player Zoey Wang, a PPA Tour medalist, attributes pickleball’s rapid growth in Asia to its low barriers to entry. “everyone is switching from tennis or badminton or ping pong, everyone’s trying to help it get better and better,” said the former tennis player, noting the increasing number of pickleball courts in countries like Vietnam and india.
Challenges Remain: fragmentation in Pickleball Landscape
Koh acknowledged that the sport faces challenges, notably the fragmented landscape with the PPA/MLP (under UPA) and the association of pickleball Professionals (APP) Tour operating separately, resulting in no unified ranking system.
Olympics in the Future?
While the UPA is not an international sports federation and cannot directly push for olympic inclusion, Koh hopes that globalizing the game will increase its recognition and perhaps lead to participation in major multi-sport events like the SEA, Asian, or Olympic Games.
Pickleball in Asia: Q&A
- What is driving pickleball’s expansion into Asia?
- Asia’s large population, existing love for racquet sports (tennis, badminton, table tennis), and high growth potential are the primary drivers. The UPA sees it as a key market for global growth.
- What is the UPA Asia trailblazers Program?
- Launched in 2025,this three-month program provides top Asian players with elite training,mentorship from leading coaches,and opportunities to compete in PPA Tour and MLP events.
- When will the PPA Tour asia and MLP Asia begin?
- The PPA tour Asia is slated to begin in the second half of 2025. MLP Asia will follow shortly after.
- Wich Asian countries are potential hosts for PPA Tour events?
- Discussions are underway with Singapore, China, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
- How is celebrity involvement boosting pickleball’s profile?
- High-profile investors like LeBron James and Tom Brady in the MLP are bringing critically important attention and visibility to the sport.
- What makes pickleball accessible in Asia?
- its low barriers to entry, relatively simple gameplay, and the ease of transitioning from other racquet sports contribute to its popularity. The increasing number of pickleball courts further enhances accessibility.
- What are the main challenges for pickleball’s growth?
- The fragmented landscape of professional pickleball, with the PPA/MLP and the APP Tour operating separately, results in a lack of a unified ranking system.
- Could pickleball become an Olympic sport?
- While not directly pushing for Olympic inclusion, the UPA hopes globalizing the game will increase its recognition, leading to participation in major multi-sport events like the Olympics.
As pickleball continues its notable global ascent, stay tuned for further updates on the sport’s exciting developments in Asia.
