By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, July 2: Sarawak is strengthening its ambition to become a leading regional destination for pickleball and sports tourism with the launch of the 2nd Borneo Pickleball International Tournament (BPIT2026).
The event, expected to attract around 2,000 participants, spectators and visitors from Malaysia and abroad, will be held from Oct 7 to 12 at PIKABOL Malaysia.
The tournament will bring together nearly 500 players from Sarawak, Sabah, Peninsular Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Singapore and other international destinations, reflecting the rapid rise of one of the world’s fastest-growing sports.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the tournament underscores Sarawak’s continued investment in sports tourism as a driver of economic growth, destination branding and community development.
He said international-calibre sporting events are increasingly important in attracting visitors while generating business opportunities for local enterprises.
“Events such as BPIT2026 not only attract visitors but also create opportunities for local businesses, stimulate economic activities and strengthen Sarawak’s position as a preferred destination for international sporting events,” he said during a press conference of the event at the ministry’s office today.
Abdul Karim, who is also Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, added that the tournament aligns with the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which identifies sports tourism as a key sector for sustainable economic returns and enhanced global visibility.
The second edition of BPIT builds on the success of its inaugural tournament in 2024, which was recognised as Malaysia’s and Borneo’s first major team pickleball championship.
The inaugural event drew about 500 players and 1,000 spectators, laying a strong foundation for the tournament’s continued expansion.
This year’s edition is expected to see even stronger participation, further reinforcing Sarawak’s growing reputation as a preferred venue for regional sporting events.
Organised by the Kuching Pickleball Association (KPA), BPIT2026 will feature both team and individual competitions across multiple age groups and skill levels.
The flagship team event will see 24 teams competing across five disciplines: Men’s Open Singles, Men’s Open Doubles, Women’s Open Doubles, Men’s Veteran Doubles (50 years and above), and Mixed Open Doubles (combined age of 90 years and above).
Individual competitions will be held across four categories, offering broader opportunities for competitive participation.
To further elevate the tournament’s profile, organisers have increased the total prize pool to RM80,000, making BPIT2026 one of the richest pickleball events in Borneo.
The champion team will receive RM20,000, while individual category winners will take home RM3,000 each, along with trophies and medals.
Abdul Karim said the rapid growth of pickleball in Sarawak reflects strong collaboration between government agencies, sports associations, private sector partners and community organisations in promoting healthy lifestyles and expanding sporting opportunities.
“Such remarkable growth of pickleball in Sarawak is a testament to the strong collaboration between government agencies, sports associations, private sector partners and community organisations.
Through these partnerships, we are creating more opportunities for people to stay active, develop their skills, build friendships and strengthen community bonds through sport,” he said.
Beyond competition, Abdul Karim also highlighted efforts to nurture future athletes through the OCI–Sarawak Closed Junior Pickleball Tournament 2026, scheduled for Sept 26 to 27 as part of the broader BPIT2026 programme.
He said the junior tournament reflects a shared commitment to developing young talent, providing competitive platforms for aspiring athletes, and building a strong pipeline of future pickleball champions for Sarawak and Malaysia.
Calling on pickleball clubs, athletes and sports enthusiasts to participate, Abdul Karim expressed confidence that BPIT2026 would further strengthen Sarawak’s reputation as a destination where sports, tourism and community development converge to deliver lasting economic and social benefits.
The event also witnessed the BPIT2026 mock cheque presentation between OCI TerraSus principal director of HR and Sustainability Division Prof Dr Kim Soo Yeon and Kuching Pickleball Association president Ruslan Bujang.
Registration for BPIT2026 is now open via the official tournament platform at https://pickleball.global. — DayakDaily
