From GoFundMe to Going Home a Pro: Nursharneem Shamsuddin Has Come a Long Way and Is Eyeing a Return to Malaysia

Nursharneem Shamsuddin. 

Remember that name.  

We all know Malaysia’s pickleball landscape is teeming with top-tier talent. World champion Jimmy Liong comes to mind, as does the incredibly skilled Zoey Wang. Nursharneem Shamsuddin, or just “Neem” for short, might just be next, if she isn’t already. 

A 26-year-old former tennis player, Neem started playing pickleball in 2022—but only casually. Then again, as many pickleball stories go, something about the sport got Neem falling in love with it. And, ultimately, that love birthed an ambitious goal moving forward.  

“I discovered pickleball in 2022 while i was working at a Country Club in Hilton Head Island, SC. At first, I played it casually, just as a fun way to interact with members of the club,” Neem told Pickleball News Asia (PNA). “But it didn’t take long for me to realise how much I loved the sport—the pace, the strategy, and the incredible community. By Mid 2023, When I graduated from King University, I decided to pursue pickleball seriously and began training with the goal of competing at the professional level.” 

A Difficult Dream, a Determined Response 

Neem quickly found out that pursuing her dream of playing professional pickleball wasn’t going to be easy pickings. The biggest hindrance, at least in her experience, was the cost of going pro. She’d have to pay the tournament fees and travel expenses. She’d have to pony up thousands of dollars for world-class coaching and topnotch equipment. But it was money Neem didn’t have a lot of, at least not for now.

But that didn’t deter Neem at all. On the contrary, it only strengthened her resolve. It made her all the more determined to pursue her pickleball dream. The best part is she did something about it: launch a GoFundMe to augment her pursuit of becoming a pro. 

“I launched a GoFundMe to support my journey as a professional pickleball player. The transition into professional sports requires a lot of investment—for travel, tournament fees, coaching, and equipment. My main goal was to be able to participate in more tournaments across the country to gain experience and ranking points,” Neem recalled about her incredible undertaking. 

Neem shot for the moon. Others helped her out, and she’s been making the most out of all the help. 

“I was grateful for everyone who contributed and supported my dream. Every bit of support helps me get one step closer to achieving my goals on tour. I started it [GoFundMe] when I went to Dallas PPA World Championships in Nov 2024. I won a PPA State Championship in Bristol, TN and got a free entry to 4.0 Singles Champions Bracket, where I compete with other State Champs,” she told PNA. 

It was an encouraging start for the Malaysian sensation, and she wanted more. So, she started another GoFundMe to advance her pro career in 2025. 

“I did another one to fund my journey for 2025. I have been competing in Moneyball (tournament with payouts) tournaments, local DUPR tournaments and even local leagues to just stay active in the community. Moreover, the goal is to compete in higher level tournaments like PPA TOUR, PPA CHALLENGERS, APP, and Nationals,” Neem added.  

The Journey Is Only Beginning

That journey has been fulfilling to say the least and marked by some considerable highs, like competing against Genie Bouchard, herself a tennis player making a name in pickleball as well.  

“One of my proudest moments was competing in a PPA event in North Carolina. I played in Qualifiers and won my first match and then lost to a very experienced player on the second round of Qualifiers. I then was picked as a lucky loser, where I had the chance to play against former professional tennis player Genie Bouchard in Round of 32,” Neem recalled. “Even though I didn’t win that match, it was an incredible experience and a sign of the progress I’ve made in a short time. I’ve also had strong showings at several local and regional tournaments, and I feel like I’m improving with every event I enter.” 

Great players, of course, are forged by fire, by competing against the best of the best. That is true across all sports, and that Neem is already getting a taste of topnotch competition is a testament to her hard work and dedication—and the timely help of other people. She even admitted that her match versus Bouchard motivated her to continue pushing herself to be great in the sport, so much so that she plans to compete in more PPA events this year and beyond. 

But that’s not all. Neem is also looking forward to playing doubles in an effort to become an even better, more well-rounded pickleball player.  

“I really enjoy the team aspect and the strategic differences of doubles. Expanding into both singles and doubles will help me grow as a complete player,” Neem explained to PNA. “It’s tough to commit to play doubles with the same player all the time because we might not have the same schedule, but I’m looking forward for the future and hopefully connect with more players that are competing in the Pro Tour as well!” 

Neem’s ultimate goal now, at least for 2025, is to make it to the World Pickleball Championship in Dallas, Texas slated from 2 to 9 November 2025 at the Brookhaven Country Club. It will feature two divisions: the Champions Division and the Open Division.    

A Homecoming Years in the Making in a Pickleball-Crazy Home

But before that, Neem has her eyes set on another World Pickleball Championship, and this one hits close to home because it will be held in Selangor in Malaysia. If things fall into place, Neem will have a well-deserved homecoming, compete in a prestigious tournament, and see firsthand the meteoric rise of pickleball in her home country. 

“I’m currently planning a trip back in July to compete in the World Pickleball Championship in Selangor, which I’m really looking forward to,” Neem bared to PNA. “Not only will it be a great opportunity to test myself against top international and local players, but it also gives me a chance to connect with the Malaysian pickleball community and inspire others who might be just starting their journey in the sport.” 

She added: “I’m really excited about the rapid growth of pickleball in Malaysia. It’s amazing to see how quickly the sport is catching on, and how passionate the local community is becoming, from casual players to those seriously competing at higher levels. As someone who was born and raised in Malaysia, I feel a strong connection to the development of pickleball there and I’m eager to be part of it.”

Best believe, too, that Malaysia is just as eagre to have Neem back and help her fulfill her big, bold dreams to become great at pickleball. The road ahead will continue to be challenging, but Neem has come far in just two short years.

With an entire nation egging her on, it won’t be a surprise if she reaches those dreams in the next two or so years.