Sarawak to host Borneo Pickleball Championship 2026, fusing sports and cultural exchange

MIRI (Dec 8): The Sarawak Chinese Association (SCA), in collaboration with 22 ethnic associations, will host the TOBC Borneo Pickleball Championship 2026 from March 28 to 29 at the Paragon Pickleball Sports Centre here.

The event serves as a curtain-raiser to the Taste of Borneo Cultural Carnival (TOBC) 4.0.

SCA president Harry Lee described the championship as a significant step in merging sports with cultural exchange.

“It is more than just a competition; it is a professionally organised, high-impact initiative designed to empower youth, strengthen unity in diversity, and reinforce Sarawak’s position as a premier destination for sports, youth development and cultural tourism,” he said.

The association strongly encourages primary and secondary students aged 10 to 18 to participate, offering exposure to competitive sports while supporting co-curricular development.

All participating students will earn the Assessment of Physical, Sports, and Co-curricular Activities (PAJSK) points, contributing to their School-Based Assessment (PBS), with the event being authorised by the Miri District Education Office.

Lee emphasised that the collaboration underscores a shared goal of promoting social cohesion and multicultural friendship, aligning with Sarawak’s Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.

The championship aims to foster interation among Sarawak’s diverse communities and participants from neighbouring regions such as Sabah, Brunei, and Indonesia.

Endorsed by the Sarawak Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurial Development, the Malaysia Pickleball Association, Sarawak Pickleball Association, and Miri Pickleball Association, the event also seeks to promote healthy lifestyles and enhance community well-being.

Additionally, it is expected to boost tourism and cultural exchange across Borneo, positioning Sarawak as a vibrant hub for sports and cultural tourism, especially in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2026.

Lee added that SCA plans to host an annual Sports Carnival as part of Sarawak’s multi-ethnic sports tourism initiative.

“This is our first large-scale effort to integrate sports with cultural exchange.

“We hope it will provide a meaningful platform for youth and diverse communities to interact, build friendships and deepen mutual understanding through healthy competition,” he added.

Registration details will be announced in due course.