PENANG is looking to build on the growing popularity of pickleball by developing the sport beyond tournaments and towards a stronger ecosystem involving grassroots participation, talent development, sports tourism and local businesses.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state has an opportunity to capitalise on pickleball’s rapid growth by creating more pathways for players to progress from recreational participation to competitive sport.
He said this when officiating the Tom Khoo Georgetown Pickleball Championship 2026 at G.O.A.T Pickleball Club in Sungai Pinang today.
The championship, featuring the Tom Khoo Cup and Penang Cup, has attracted 160 players from 11 countries and regions and offers an overall prize money of RM61,600, making it one of the highest-paying pickleball tournaments in Malaysia.
Chow said the tournament demonstrates how competitive sporting events can contribute not only to the development of athletes but also to Penang’s wider sports tourism and economic activities.
“For our local players, competing alongside an international field gives them the opportunity to gain experience, raise their standards and showcase their ability on home ground,” he said.
He said visitors attending such tournaments will also contribute to the local economy as players, families and supporters stay in hotels, dine at restaurants, explore heritage attractions and patronise businesses across the state.
Chow said pickleball, once largely regarded as a recreational pastime, is now developing into a more organised and competitive sport, supported by international circuits, major tournaments, commercial partnerships and growing grassroots participation.
Penang, he said, is increasingly becoming part of this regional development.
Earlier this year, the state hosted the World Pickleball Championship Malaysia Series and the APP Penang Open, while Malaysia was selected as the permanent home of the Association of Pickleball Players’ Asia headquarters.
“These developments are strengthening our position within the sport’s growing regional circuit,” he said.
However, Chow stressed that the next step for Penang should not simply be to host more tournaments.
Instead, he said the state should connect competitive events with grassroots participation, youth development, talent identification, sports tourism and local businesses.
“This is consistent with Penang’s wider approach to sports through initiatives such as SportsForAll, which gives young people opportunities to discover different sports, and Penang junior coaches, which helps develop the next generation of coaches and mentors,” he said.
Chow also highlighted the Georgetown Pickleball Club’s support for selected schools through coaching resources, equipment, sponsorship and tournament assistance.
He said such efforts can help establish a pathway for young players from their first exposure to the sport through structured development and eventually competitive opportunities.
“The long-term value of a sport is not measured only by the size of its tournaments. It is also measured by how many people we bring into the sport, how well we develop talent and whether we create pathways for them to progress,” he said.
Chow said sports development is also about creating positive values and healthier communities.
“Sport should not only produce champions; it should also build confidence, discipline, teamwork and healthier lifestyles. We should develop not only athletes, but also the coaches, volunteers and communities that will sustain the sport for years to come,” he said.
He added that the growth of pickleball shows what can be achieved when the government, sporting organisations, schools, sponsors and the community work together.
Chow cited the partnership between Georgetown Pickleball Club and LUZZ as an example of private-sector involvement in providing resources, innovation and opportunities for sporting development.
“This is the direction I hope Penang can continue to pursue: from tournaments to a stronger sporting ecosystem, from participation to talent development, and from sporting activity to wider economic and social value,” he said.
Chow congratulated sponsor Datuk Tom Khoo, Georgetown Pickleball Club and all partners involved in organising the championship, expressing hope that the event will contribute to a stronger and more sustainable sporting culture in Penang.
Also present at the opening ceremony were state executive councillor for Youth, Sports and Health Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, state executive councillor for Social Development, Welfare and Non-Islamic Affairs and Sungai Pinang assemblyman Lim Siew Khim, Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng Soon Siang, Datuk Tom Khoo, who is also the Penang Forward Sports Club adviser, Georgetown Pickleball Club president Jasmine Ong, Hong Kong actor Stefan Wong and Datuk Wong Hao Yuan.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Law Suun Ting
Video by Alissala Thian