Quang Duong Brings Star Power to Sabah Open as State Bets Big on Sport Tourism
Sabah is known for its islands, its mountains and its seafood. Now its organisers would like it to be known for pickleball too. The inaugural Sabah Open Pickleball Championships 2026 got under way on Thursday at Replay Karamunsing in Kota Kinabalu, and the people behind it have big ambitions for a first edition.
A Big Field for a First Edition
A total of 538 players signed up for the four-day event, which carries a RM100,000 prize pool across 11 categories. Replay Karamunsing is the organiser, working together with Borneo Vision Holiday Sdn. Bhd.
For a debut tournament in Malaysian Borneo, that’s a healthy turnout. It’s also a sign that the sport’s growth in the region isn’t limited to the peninsula or the big Southeast Asian capitals.
A Vietnamese Trio Steals the Spotlight
The biggest name in town is Quang Duong, Asia’s top-ranked player and the world No. 6. He’s joined by his brother Bao Duong and fellow Vietnamese pro Sophia Tran Phuong Anh.
At a press conference, the three talked up Sabah’s coastline and the hospitality they’ve received from their hosts. Quang said he hopes his visit can help put Sabah on the map as a pickleball destination for the rest of the world.
Local fans will also have familiar names to follow. American Roman Estareja and Indonesia’s Frisandyo Fauzan are among the contenders, as are former national tennis player Neem Shamsuddin and Sabah’s own Steffan Alex. Former national squash player Jessica Keng is in the mix as well, a reminder of how many racket-sport athletes have crossed over to pickleball.
Why Sabah Wants an Annual Event
Organising chairman Lamardani Jonaeli says the goal is for the Sabah Open to become a yearly international fixture, with Replay as its home base. Given the response so far, the organisers plan to grow the event next year by adding categories beyond the current 11, in the hope of attracting more top overseas players.
Then there’s the business angle. Borneo Vision Holiday managing director Wilson Ngu says the whole point is “sport tourism,” a pairing of sport and travel. With pickleball booming around the world, his idea is to use the sport to bring visitors to Sabah, introduce them to its landscape and culture, and in turn boost local tourism and create new openings for the sports community.
Government support was visible at the launch too. Joseph Ivor Bachee, chief assistant secretary at the state’s Youth Development, Sports Advancement and Creative Economy Ministry, attended the press conference.
It’s a familiar playbook, seen elsewhere in Asia: bring in a star, fill the courts, and let the visitors discover the destination. If Sabah can make it work, the Sabah Open could be more than a tournament. It could be a reason to book a flight to Borneo.
