Pickleball is now the fastest-growing pastime sport globally, and it has also seen a phenomenal rise in Malaysia. And ReSkills EdTech, the education specialist set-up, is eyeing to push the game into the grassroots level.

ReSkills, the organiser of the First Asia Pickleball Summit in KL, believes that pickleball has a bright future in Malaysia and aims to strengthen the sport, which they say is an incredible recreational event for all, helping many to stay fit and healthy.

“This is an amazing way to be healthy, fit, and have fun at the same time,” said Jin Tan, the CEO of ReSkills.

“This is the way forward for our community of Malaysia to be vibrant in their life. Pickleball is the way forward – it is fun, fun and more fun. And while doing that, you are also staying fit and healthy. It is the perfect combination.”

Jin added that they are also working hand-in-hand with the Malaysian Pickleball Association in trying to push the game to the grassroots level.

“We are working closely with the association and we have big plans for the game,” added Jin, who is also the president of Reskill Pickleball Club. “It is also great news for us that the Youth and Sports Ministry is fully supporting our initiatives.

“One way of pushing the sports to the next level is also by having our own club, and we are emphasising a lot in introducing the game to the young ones.”

Meanwhile, Ken Lim, the Chief Business Officer of ReSkills and vice-president of the club, said they have already been making plans to push the game to schools in Malaysia.

“The thing is, this game has associations in all the states. That helps us even more. And pickleball is also not an expensive recreational sport, unlike other games.

“It is very affordable for all and we aim to take advantage of it by introducing the game to all. What is important is that we have a big pool of players and then we look at the future and have more participation in the international arena.”

For the record, while the Asian Pickleball summit was going on, Malaysia is also hosting the World Pickleball Championship (WPC) Asian Grand Slam event, which started on Wednesday (July 16).

Hannah Yeoh, the Minister of Youth and Sports, said on Thursday, when officiating the event, that she is impressed with the way the pastime sport has picked up in Malaysia and foresees a bright future for the game.

For the record, pickleball is a racket or paddle sport in which two or four players use a smooth-faced paddle to hit a perforated, hollow plastic ball over a 34-inch-high (0.86 m) net until one side is unable to return the ball or commits a rule infraction.

Pickleball is played indoors and outdoors. It was invented in 1965 as a children’s backyard game in the United States, on Bainbridge Island in Washington State. In 2022, pickleball was named the official state sport of Washington.

Aspects of the sport resemble tennis and table tennis played on a doubles badminton court, but pickleball has specific scoring rules, paddles, balls and court lines.

* As for the first-ever Asia Pickleball Summit (APS), it was held at One World Hotel, Petaling Jaya, underscoring Malaysia’s pioneering role in Asia’s fastest-growing sport. The summit gathered global pioneers, innovators, and change-makers to spark a new chapter for pickleball in Asia.

This event, besides being organised by Malaysia-based global online learning platform ReSkills EdTech, co-hosted by AFA Community and AsiaPickleball TV, is officially endorsed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia (KBS), and fully supported by the Malaysia Pickleball Association (MPA) — marking a key milestone in the emerging Asian sports landscape.

Jin Tan said, “We are also promoting this sport to create more possibilities for Asia’s youth through empowerment through sports.”

He pointed out that as Pickleball surges globally, Asia is poised for unprecedented growth and Malaysia is riding the frontlines. In the past 90 days alone, over 57,555 activities were hosted nationwide, 3,916 clubs were formed, and almost 150,000 players are actively engaged here, ranking first in Asia.

“These figures are no accident; they are the result of uniting education, technology, and community,” Jin added. “The birth of APS is an extension of ReSkills’ long-standing mission of ‘Empowerment Through Education.”

Jin said ReSkills views Pickleball not just as a sport, but also as an educational tool and a language for cross-cultural exchange.

On hindsight, Ken and Jin also added that the event was not just a sporting event, it was a strategic cross-sector convergence that gave new momentum to pickleball.

“The summit enabled synergy between sports, education, healthcare, and finance, while promoting public health and strengthening community engagement,” said Ken.

The event also successfully attracted youth and women, demonstrating pickleball’s inclusiveness and mass participation potential.

Hannah Yeoh also added that: “Pickleball is not just a sport, it’s an opportunity to redefine education, community building, and youth empowerment. It is also important to note that pickleball has accessibility, affordability, and community-building value across all age groups, particularly for women and senior citizens.”

She also highlighted that Malaysian sports greats such as Lee Chong Wei, Nicol David, and Cheah Liek Hou have also joined the promotion efforts, reinforcing Malaysia’s emerging leadership in Asia.

Ken Lim, also APS Organising Chairperson, stated: “Sports is education in motion. APS is where thought meets action, and Malaysia proudly

stands at its epicentre. Through ReSkills, Pickleball becomes more than a match; it becomes a classroom. More than a game, it becomes empowerment.”

More details: www.asiapickleballsummit.com