Selangor State Government and ASICS Malaysia Collaborate to Support Pickleball Growth
LinkedUp Asia Sdn. Bhd., the leading pickleball tournament organiser in Malaysia, is pleased to announce that the State Government of Selangor and ASICS Malaysia have teamed up as co-organisers for the Selangor ASICS Pickleball Open to be held on February 15 and 16 at the DINK2 courts in Petaling Jaya.
The event is part of a series of tournaments planned by ASICS Malaysia. The dual aim of these tournaments is to showcase Malaysia’s elite pickleball talent and provide a platform to motivate grassroots players to get involved. With this in mind, it was great to see that the state of Selangor wasted no time in partnering and supporting this event by increasing the prize money for the 200+ participants.
The Menteri Besar of Selangor, YAB Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari, told us why: “Pickleball has taken Malaysia by storm, especially in Selangor, and I continue to be surprised at the pace of new pickleball courts opening almost every week. When I announced the State Government’s intention to co-develop pickleball for the 2025 annual budget, I pointed out pickleball’s unique blend of inclusivity and friendly competitiveness; young or old, male or female, anyone can hold their own on the court. In Selangor, we fully intend to support this sport’s rapid growth but want to make it more accessible, especially to young people. We have our eye on SUKMA 2026, and to do well there, parents and communities can work together to encourage more kids to join. We want to encourage wide adoption across the state, and teaming up with ASICS to support this team event taking place in Selangor fits in nicely with our intentions.”
Given Dato’ Seri Amirudin’s previous announcement of the intention to include pickleball in SUKMA 2026 which will be held in Selangor, it is clear to see that the state is truly supportive of the nation’s interest in the sport.
Boon Tib, Country Manager of ASICS Malaysia, explained, “Pickleball represents a unique opportunity for Malaysia to shine on multiple fronts. As a sport that welcomes participants of all ages and abilities, it perfectly embodies our ‘Sound Mind, Sound Body’ philosophy, promoting not just physical fitness but mental well-being through community engagement and active lifestyles. Partnering with the state of Selangor for the Selangor ASICS Pickleball Open allows us to inspire elite athletes to reach their potential while encouraging grassroots players to embrace this inclusive sport. Together, we’re creating a platform where community, competition, and wellness converge to elevate pickleball locally and internationally.”
YAB Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari told us: “I am very proud of how my team has worked alongside ASICS Malaysia to develop a team format for this tournament that truly espouses the inclusivity that we love about the sport. The team ethos is in line with the work ethic I have continued to press in Selangor, because by supporting one another, we can achieve greater things. And I’m thrilled to see this team format in the upcoming tournament. By creating teams which require pairings that meet minimum combined ages (e.g. mixed doubles pairings that must have a combined age of 80+), we have enabled a platform for people across a wide age spectrum to get involved and compete on a level playing field.”
The tournament will take place on February 15 and 16 on the DINK2 courts in PJ. The categories include a team event made up of men’s doubles open, men’s doubles combined age 90+, mixed doubles combined age 80+ and women’s doubles combined age 70+, along with both men’s and women’s novice singles categories. The action starts at 8 am on both days. If you are interested to learn more and see what the game is all about, come along and watch as the teams compete. Spectators are very welcome.”
About LinkedUp Asia
LinkedUp Asia is Malaysia’s premier training and sports management company specialising in pickleball tournaments and experiences. As a certified HRDF training provider, the company has extensive expertise in team building and offers innovative programs designed to bring pickleball into the boardroom. With multiple successful tournaments under their belt and a proven track record in corporate team building events, LinkedUp Asia is at the forefront of the pickleball boom across Asia.
