Sarawak to host community driven pickleball tournament

Sarawak, Malaysia, will host the #BorneoPickleball International Tournament, 9-12 October, the largest of its kind in Malaysia and Borneo, with a RM20,000 prize pool. Organised by the Kuching Pickleball Association and advised by BESarawak, the event is supported by the Malaysia and Sarawak Pickleball Associations, and the Ministries of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, and Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Sarawak. It aims to draw 500 players and 2,000 visitors, enhancing Sarawak’s sports tourism profile and fostering community development. Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said: “This tournament can be a recurring event and 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.” Ruslan Bujang added, “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… where players compete while making meaningful contributions to local communities.” Registration closes on 31 August, with details on BESarawak’s Facebook page.