PETALING JAYA, 22 Feb – The Selangor ASICS Pickleball Open was a smashing success as 267 players participated in the two-day tournament held on 15-16 February at the DINK2 courts in Petaling Jaya.
The competition featured a team event covering men’s doubles open, men’s doubles (combined age 90+), mixed doubles (combined age 80+) and women’s doubles (combined age 70+).
Additionally, men’s and women’s novice singles categories were introduced to encourage new players to experience competitive play.
In the singles division, Connie Chan emerged victorious in the women’s category with Maxine Teoh Kah Wai securing second place.
Lim Ju-En finishing third and Yong Sze Jing placing fourth. On the men’s side, Danny Tan claimed the top spot, followed by Lee Jia An in second place, Jaden Tham in third and Ritchie Lee Zhe Zhin in fourth.
In the team event saw 002 East-West dominate the competition, taking home the championship title.
DINKiT secured second place, MYP SJ finished third and Dink Dongs placed fourth. Each team featured six to eight players competing across different subcategories which are the men’s doubles open, men’s doubles, mixed doubles and women’s doubles.
Adding to the excitement, national hockey legend, Datuk Mirnawan Nawawi made a special appearance and showcased his newfound passion for pickleball. His team delivered an impressive performance, securing second place in the competition.
The Selangor ASICS Pickleball Open was co-organised by LinkedUp Asia Sdn. Bhd., the leading pickleball tournament organiser in Malaysia, alongside the State Government of Selangor and ASICS Malaysia.
This event is part of ASICS Malaysia’s ongoing efforts to showcase elite talent and encourage grassroots participation in the sport.
“Pickleball represents a unique opportunity for Malaysia to shine on multiple fronts. As a sport that welcomes participants of all ages and abilities, it perfectly embodies our ‘Sound Mind, Sound Body’ philosophy, promoting not just physical fitness but also mental well-being through community engagement and active lifestyles,” said Boon Tib.
“Partnering with the State of Selangor for this tournament allows us to inspire elite athletes to reach their potential while encouraging grassroots players to embrace this inclusive sport. Together, we’re creating a platform where community, competition and wellness converge to elevate pickleball both locally and internationally.”
Meanwhile, founder of LinkedUp Asia, Melina Hwang said that the overwhelming turnout at the Selangor ASICS Pickleball Open is further proof of the sport’s rapid growth in Malaysia, particularly in Selangor.
“We were confident that the Selangor ASICS Pickleball Open would be well-received, but we were still amazed by the enthusiastic support we received,” said Melina.
“It speaks to the ever-growing popularity of pickleball in Malaysia and the undeniable passion of the community. We hope to build on this momentum and organise bigger and better tournaments moving forward.”
A total prize pool of over RM15,000, including ASICS shoes was awarded to winners across all categories.
With its expertise and track record in organising successful tournaments, LinkedUp Asia is set to play a pivotal role in shaping Malaysia’s pickleball scene, ensuring that events like the Selangor ASICS Pickleball Open continue to serve as a platform for both elite and grassroots players to thrive in this fast-growing sport.
Meanwhile, during the tournament, global sports brand,ASICS introduced its latest pickleball innovation – the ASICS GEL-DEDICATE™ 8 PB, a shoe designed to offer players superior stability and flexibility on the court.
Featuring synthetic leather overlays, the shoe enhances support, keeping players’ feet locked in when making quick directional changes.
Its TRUSSTIC™ support unit and wrap-up outsole improve stability while allowing for unrestricted movement, enabling players to transition confidently between shots.
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