This October, Kuching is set to be at the forefront of pickleball sporting events. The city will host the #BorneoPickleball International Tournament, the most significant event of its kind in Malaysia and Borneo.
With a handsome prize pool of RM20,000, the tournament is attracting widespread interest. From October 9 to 12, about 500 athletes and 2,000 fans are expected to converge in Kuching for this landmark event.
Organized by the Kuching Pickleball Association, the tournament has garnered substantial support. BESarawak is on board as the Exclusive Strategic Advisor, offering in-kind contributions to ensure a world-class event.
Endorsements for the International Tournament come from prestigious bodies. Both the Malaysia Pickleball Association and Sarawak Pickleball Association, along with key government ministries, support this significant sporting event.
Pickleball’s inclusive nature brings together participants of all ages and skill levels. It encourages interaction across various sectors, making it a unique community event.
The tournament invites a broad spectrum of participants. Corporate entities, public sectors, associations, clubs, and individuals are all encouraged to join the excitement.
At today’s press conference, The Honourable Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak and Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Sarawak stated that “the International Tournament is relevant for Sarawak to strengthen its destination profile in sports and sports tourism. As the host of SUKMA 2024, Sarawak is already in the spotlight; the International Pickleball Tournament is another strategic opportunity to show Sarawak’s ability to host global sporting events and boost our image as a sports tourism destination.”
“With more sports associations developing new events in Sarawak, we attract new investments in sports facilities and infrastructure. Growing and sustaining our sporting communities requires education, engagement, collaboration, and inclusion, as demonstrated in this pickleball tournament.”
As the Exclusive Strategic Advisor, BESarawak’s contribution is to guide the Kuching Pickleball Association in developing a sporting event that can be sustained. According to Dato Sri Abang Haji Abdul Karim bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, Chairman of BESarawak.“This Tournament can be a recurring event and transformed into a potential legacy for the pickleball community and Sarawak’s sports tourism. The Tournament’s outreach goes beyond the competition itself as the Kuching Pickleball Association partners with us to include the ‘Books Build Legacy’ corporate social responsibility programme with a target of 2,000 book donations in aid of Sarawak’s rural schools.”
“Community development is always a priority for us in the industry and the Tournament is a product of collaboration between business events players uniting for change. This is our contribution to developing Associations and major events.”
Ruslan Bujang, President of the Kuching Pickleball Association mentioned “Pickleball is a healthy way of managing stress, living an active lifestyle, and building new friendships and connections. The Tournament is a great opportunity for cross-cultural exchange between Malaysian and International communities; bridging the worlds of sports and education through this tournament, where players compete while making meaningful contributions to local communities.”
The tournament will feature three categories:
Open (Team) category
- 5 subcategories: Mixed Doubles, Women’s Doubles, Men’s Doubles, Veteran Doubles, Men’s Singles
- Maximum 48 teams
- Registration fee of RM1,200 per team
- Prizes between RM1,250 (including medal) to RM10,000 (including trophy and medal)
Women’s Single category
- Maximum 24 players
- Registration fee of RM100 per player
- Prizes between RM125 to RM1,000 (all inclusive of medals)
Novice category
- Maximum 24 pairs
- Registration fee of RM50 per pair
- Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals are up for grabs
The #BorneoPickleball International Tournament is in partnership with:
- Sarawak Tourism Board (Promotion Partner)
- Malaysia Airlines (Airline Partner)
- Grand Margherita Hotel and Riverside Majestic Hotel (Hotel Partners)
- CPH Travel (Travel Agency Partner)
Teams and individuals wishing to join must register for a Pickleball Global ID at https://pickleball.global/.
ID registration is free and accumulated points at the #BorneoPickleball International Tournament can be used for global tournaments.
Registration for the Tournament closes on 31 August 2024. For regular Tournament updates, visit BESarawak’s Facebook page (@BESarawak). For full details on the Tournament including Registration QR codes, refer to the Attachments enclosed in the press kit. For more information on the Tournament and Registration, kindly contact Mr. Ruslan Bujang, President of the Kuching Pickleball Association at +6019-888-8160.
