Pickleball’s Unstoppable Rise Is Continuing—and This Nation Is Emerging as the Sport’s Hub in Asia
The US remains the home of pickleball. It continues to be huge in Canada. But it’s also growing at a meteoric rate around the world.
In fact, there’s a new pickleball ball hub emerging—and it’s miles away from the sport’s undisputed epicenter.
That new pickleball hub is none other than Malaysia.
Yes, Malaysia is becoming the focal point of pickleball in this side of the world, and there’s undeniable proof of it now. According to recent data from DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating), Malaysia now has the third largest user base of the skill rating app—just behind the US and Canada.
In other words, Malaysia now has more users of the DUPR, a global rating system designed specifically for pickleball players of all levels, than any other country outside North America. In fact, the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur is just behind Austin, Texas in the US for the most number of DUPR users. This is indicative of pickleball’s growing base in Malaysia.
Tournaments Left and Right and an Emerging Infrastructure
It shouldn’t come a surprise, though. Pickleball is huge in this Southeast Asian nation, and it regularly sees high-level tournaments. Just recently, for instance, the PCCC YES launched the Grand Pickleball Masters Malaysia set to take place on 26 April 2025 and on 2–4 May 2025. There’s also the Felet Open 2025 later in May, the Malaysia Pickleball Grandslam in October, and plenty other tournaments for players of all ages and skill levels.
In the grand scheme of things, Malaysia in neck-and-neck with South Korea as the two nations where pickleball is growing the most. And it will grow even more in Malaysia as pickleball infrastructure in the country is starting to pick up—the latest being the launch of Pickleball Stadium at Kenanga Wholesale City in Kuala Lumpur. In addition, there are now over 300 registered DUPR clubs in Malaysia, giving players more avenues to register with DUPR and get skill-based ratings.
Aside from Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian state of Sarawak is also leading the pickleball boom in Malaysia through the Sarawak Pickleball Association and with the support of the state government—notably Sarawak’s Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan.
Indeed, pickleball really is booming in Malaysia. It isn’t level with badminton yet in terms of popularity and prestige, but it’s attracting more and more players. Again, this shouldn’t be a surprise given the accessibility of the sport, the ease of learning it, and the community vibe it offers.
It remains to be seen how big pickleball will become in Malaysia, or if its meteoric rise continues. One thing is clear: It’s red-hot right now in Malaysia.
