International pickleball tournament to be held biennially

KUCHING: Borneo Pickleball International Tournament will be held biennially following interest from international participants.

2024 tournament chairman Ruslan Bujang announced plans to hold the Borneo Pickleball International Tournament biennially, allowing ample time for players to prepare.

“We aim to host this tournament every two years so that participants have enough time to train and compete effectively,” he said.

Ruslan expressed his excitement at seeing teams from countries such as Taiwan, the Philippines, and Indonesia to participate in the event.

“We are thrilled to have many strong teams competing here.

SPECTATORS cheer as the players score a point, fueling the excitement on the court.

THE pickleball players bring the heat to the court.

“It seems everyone enjoyed the tournament,” he told the New Sarawak Tribune at the Pikabol Complex on Sunday.

The tournament attracted a substantial public turnout, with players bringing their families to witness the final day’s events.

“We scheduled all the final matches, including the third and fourth place games, (on Sunday) to give more people the opportunity to enjoy the competition,” he added.

Ruslan also highlighted the growing popularity of pickleball in Kuching.

“The pickleball community is growing rapidly, and this tournament provides excellent exposure for locals,” he said.

Paragon SG from Singapore clinched the team event title with a decisive 3-1 victory over fellow Singaporean team Paragon Perfecto.

As champions, Paragon SG take home a cash prize of RM10,000, while Paragon Perfecto, the first runners-up, receive RM5,000.