Sino Group, Bay Pickle Launch Youth Elite Programme to Bring China Pickleball Circuit to Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s young pickleball players are about to get a clearer path to the top. Sino Group and local pickleball operator Bay Pickle have expanded their partnership to launch a youth talent incubation initiative, and to stage the China Pickleball Circuit in Hong Kong for the first time.
Unveiled at Olympian City on 6 November, the initiative centres on professional coaching, competitive platforms and elite pathway support, with the goal of building a progression ladder for local players.
The City’s First Indoor Bay Pickle Academy
The centrepiece is the opening of Hong Kong’s first Bay Pickle Academy, at Sino Group’s One SilverSea property. The facility has two indoor competition-grade courts and will offer structured courses led by seasoned local instructors. Overseas and mainland professional coaches and athletes will also be invited regularly for specialised training sessions and clinics.
The academy operates under Major League Pickleball founder Steve Kuhn, who serves as chairman. Its coaching framework covers youth development, elite clinics and masterclasses with international talent, including Rex Thais, the world No. 1 junior on the PPA Tour.
China Pickleball Circuit Makes Its Hong Kong Debut
On the competitive side, Bay Pickle has secured the rights to stage the China Pickleball Circuit in Hong Kong for the first time, with registration opening immediately. Founded in 2024, the nationwide circuit has grown to more than 1,000 tournament stops across nearly 100 cities.
The Hong Kong tournament takes place over four days, on 6, 12, 19 and 20 December, at Fairview Park Country Club in Yuen Long. It has four competition categories:
- CPC-100 individual ranking events
- CPC-300 individual ranking events
- J-30 junior division, for athletes under 18
- J-60 junior division, for athletes under 18
Each category will contest men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles.
20 Juniors, 1,000 Hours of Training
For the young players, the bigger prize may be the Sino and Bay Pickle Future Elite Cultivation Programme. Organisers have pledged more than 1,000 hours of training resources and subsidised court access to nurture 20 selected junior players in the scheme’s first year.
Applications are open to local players under 18. Candidates will go through screening, interviews and technical assessments to qualify for personalised training pathways. Successful applicants will receive:
- Weekly complimentary court time at the Bay Pickle Academy
- Systematic technical assessments
- Priority enrolment in advanced coaching workshops
Standout performers will also be considered for travel sponsorships to represent Hong Kong in mainland and overseas tournaments.
Building a Ladder, Not Just a Court
Sino Group Chief Commercial Officer Bella Chhoa said building a sport’s long-term future takes more than widening public participation. It also needs a sustainable progression ladder for rising athletes. Sino Group, she added, will keep using its property portfolio and community networks to host open play sessions and school activities, balancing community outreach with high-performance sports development.
For a city that hosted the Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam just weeks ago, the timing is fitting. Hong Kong has shown it can draw the world’s top players. Now it wants to grow its own
