By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, May 14: The Gawea Pickleball Cup 2024 (GPC2024) will be held for the first time on June 15 at the Siniawan Community Hall in Bau, from 7am to 11pm.
According to Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh, 12 dynamic pickleball teams will compete in three categories in the Team Event: Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and a special Mixed Doubles costume event, with an estimated 300 spectators expected to attend.
“Of course, no tournament would be complete without prizes, and we have some exciting rewards in store,” he said during a press conference held in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) media room here today.
Miro also noted that people of all ages can participate in the pickleball competition.
He further mentioned that his side proactively assisted the ministry and the Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) in promoting the sport across Sarawak.
“With more promotion from the existing pickleball association, it is hoped that it will become a sport that Sarawakians begin to love.
“This pickleball sport also has a simple concept which combines aspects of other sports such as tennis, table tennis, and using a badminton court with lowered nets.
“In fact, pickleball also has the potential to be listed as one of the events in the Malaysian Games (SUKMA) in the future,” he added.
Meanwhile, a press handout stated that prizes await the champions, including RM1,600 for first-place winners, RM800 for runners-up, RM600 for third-place finishers, and RM400 prize for the best costume in the mixed doubles category.
“I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors, WEIDA (M) Bhd, Group Engineers Malaysia (GEM) Sdn Bhd, Kuching Pickleball Association (KPA), Sarawak Sports Corporations (SSC), and Kelab Rekreasi Berimbai Kuching. Your support has been invaluable in making this event possible,” Miro said.
Furthermore, Bau Pickle Blinders president Jackson Lian Ngau remarked that the pickleball competition is named the Gawea Pickleball Cup in conjunction with this year’s Gawea (Gawai).
As per Lian, all of the teams are from existing pickleball clubs in Kuching. — DayakDaily
