By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Oct 18: Sarawak will support the Malaysia Pickleball Grand Slam 2025 (MPG2025) on a large scale following the overwhelming success of its inaugural edition, which drew nearly 1,000 players from 11 countries.
Officiating the event today at Pikabol, Jalan Pending, home to the largest pickleball court in Kuching and Sarawak, Minister of Youth, Sports and Youth Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah praised the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) for organising the grand and vibrant competition, which he described as far exceeding expectations.
“This is an inaugural event organised by MATTA, and what a surprise it was. I didn’t expect it to be this grand, this big, with participation from so many international and top pickleball players from all over the world,” he said.
Participants from across the region and beyond, including Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, India, Vietnam, and the United States, are competing in the tournament, which runs from Oct 13 to 19 and offers a total prize purse of RM114,000.
Abdul Karim, who is also the Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, commended MATTA’s effort in making its first foray into sports tourism through the event, saying it showcases how pickleball, one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, is gaining traction in Sarawak and Malaysia.
“Pickleball can only grow with the organisation of more events like this and, most importantly, the passion of those involved in the sport.
“As the Minister of Tourism, I’m very happy to see something like this happening. I didn’t expect it to be this grand. And definitely, with the inaugural event coming up to this level, Sarawak will be supporting it on a big scale next year and ensuring its continued growth,” he added.
He also highlighted the sport’s ability to unite people of all ages, fostering family bonding, friendship, and healthy living through sports.
“I’m happy to see players both young and old participating. It brings families together, promotes fitness, and builds a healthy community. I also wish to welcome all those coming from outside of Sarawak and I hope they have a good game and build friendships with players from other parts of the world,” he said.
He congratulated MATTA and the Kuching Pickleball Association for their successful collaboration in hosting the event, which underscores Sarawak’s potential as a destination for sports tourism and international sporting events. — DayakDaily
