Over the weekend, Comfort Technology Company Skechers closed the curtains on the hugely successful Skechers International Pickleball Tournament–Malaysia Edition 2026. From the looks of it, this high-level competition that drew over 1,000 players will not be the last.
Skechers is seeing a marked rise in the number of Malaysian picklers looking for structured competition, ostensibly to test themselves against other players. Stephanie Chang, Senior General Manager of Skechers Malaysia, shared this observation with Pickleball News Asia in an exclusive interview.
“Based on industry data, pickleball awareness in Malaysia has seen significant growth over the past year, alongside a community that is increasingly engaging in structured, competitive play,” Chang pointed out. “The number of players participating in DUPR-rated matches also points to a shift beyond casual play into a more competitive environment.”
Skechers Notes Diversity in Malaysian Player Base
What is even more exciting is the diversity Skechers is seeing among players entering the competitive side of pickleball.
“What stands out to us is the diversity within the player base. We are seeing participation across a wide age range, from juniors to those aged 50 and above, which reflects how accessible the sport has become,” Chang said. “At the same time, there is a growing interest in competition, with more players looking to benchmark themselves and improve through tournaments.”
The format of the Skechers International Pickleball Tournament–Malaysia Edition 2026 reflects this diversity. Already in its fourth iteration, the competition kept the core structure from previous editions—skill-based tiers across Novice, Intermediate, and Open categories spread out on Singles and Doubles categories.
Skechers also introduced a new Junior (Under 18) category to open participation to younger players while increasing the total prize pool from RM80,000 to RM100,000.
Commitment to Growth
With the success of the Skechers International Pickleball Tournament–Malaysia Edition 2026, it is only fitting that one of the world’s top brands continues to support the growing pickleball landscape of Malaysia.
“Malaysia is continuing to develop as an active market for competitive pickleball in the region…” Chang added. “For Skechers, our focus is on contributing to that growth by providing players across all levels with a consistent, DUPR-rated platform to compete and develop. Tournaments like this also create opportunities for local players to compete alongside international participants, which helps broaden exposure and raise the overall level of play.”
That growth is undeniable—and it will only get better with Skechers throwing its all-out support.
