Malaysia’s pickleball scene just got a little louder—and a little harder to ignore.
The inaugural Oriental Daily News Malaysia Open 2026 concluded at the Grand Pickleball Arena in Shah Alam over the weekend, drawing hundreds of players from across the country for three days of competition spread across Junior, Novice, Intermediate, and Open categories. With a RM100,000 prize pool and a closing ceremony attended by representatives from the Malaysia Pickleball Association, major sponsors, and the Shah Alam City Council, the tournament made a strong case for itself as a fixture on the Malaysian sporting calendar.
“The tournament is not only about competition,” said Oriental Daily Sdn Bhd director of editorial coordination Pattrik Ting. “It is also about learning, sharing, friendship, and growing the pickleball community.”
Youth Turns Up, And That Changes Everything
The most significant takeaway from the three-day event was not on the scoreboard—it was in the stands and on the entry lists.
MPA Ad-Hoc Committee member Datuk Wan Khalik Wan Mohamed pointed to the youth turnout as the clearest signal that pickleball’s growth in Malaysia is not a fad.
“Many people still see pickleball as a sport for older adults, but the strong participation from children and young players here shows the sport is growing,” Wan Khalik said. “This is a positive sign for pickleball.”
He went further, suggesting that sustained youth development could put Malaysia’s pickleball players on the SEA Games, Asian Games, and—in time—Olympic stage. “This is the right time to introduce the sport to children and groom the next generation of players,” he added.
The Champions
Ten championship categories were contested across the weekend. Pauline Ng Jia Hui was the standout performer, claiming a remarkable double by winning both the Mixed Doubles Intermediate and Mixed Doubles Open titles—the latter alongside Wei Siang, who helped deliver a RM3,500 prize package and a four-day resort stay in Phuket.
In Women’s Doubles Novice, Chong Yi Thong and Ong Ke Rou took the title ahead of Yap Yu Thong and Senie Liew Sam Ye, with Tam Wee Wey and Chung Jin Yee in third. The Men’s Doubles Intermediate crown went to Tew Cheng Jie and Lee Kok Qing, with Oswald and Khaw Wei Huan finishing as runners-up and Brandon Fong Jay Shern and Leonarrd Ng taking third.
In the Open Gender Doubles Junior category, Ethan Chan and Brandon Basas claimed gold over Elton Liew Ze Thong and Darius Foo, with Louis Woo and Raziq Rusyaidi finishing third. The Men’s Doubles Open title went to Dickson Ng and Desmond Lim, who won one of the tournament’s most competitive categories.
Corporate Malaysia Gets Behind the Paddle
The level of commercial backing behind the ODN Malaysia Open spoke as clearly as any scorecard. redONE Mobile and Sri Kota Specialist Medical Centre served as Gold Sponsors, with Agrobank, Honda Malaysia, and RHB Insurance among the official partners. The prize packages reflected the depth of that support—champions walked away with cash, resort stays, travel vouchers, footwear, and wellness products.
For Pattrik Ting, the sponsor turnout validated the tournament’s ambitions.
“We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to all our sponsors for making this event possible,” he said. “Their valuable support and confidence in us made this a success.”
With strong foundations laid and organisers already looking to future editions, the ODN Malaysia Open has arrived—and Malaysian pickleball is only getting started.
