Season 2 of the UPA Asia Trailblazers Programme will have the backing of three of the world’s most renowned paddle brands: JOOLA, Facolos, and Luzz.
JOOLA and Facolos are returning as Paddle Partners of the UPA Asia Trailblazers Programme, while Luzz will be on board for the first time. Through this partnership, Luzz will provide paddles and support UPA Asia in its bid to develop talent across the region.
“We’re deeply honoured to stand as one of the Official Paddle Partners for the UPA Asia Trailblazers Programme. This remarkable initiative ignites a passion for pickleball, inspires new possibilities, and cultivates the champions of tomorrow across our vibrant and rapidly growing region,” said Tom Nguyen, CEO, Asia Pacific, at JOOLA.
“We’re truly honoured to be part of the Trailblazers Programme for a second time. This partnership with UPA reflects our shared belief in the power of developing future champions—discovering, nurturing, and empowering young talent to build the foundation for sustainable growth of pickleball in Asia and beyond,” shared Jessica Vo, Co-Founder and Vice President of Facolos Pickleball. “Facolos is proud to contribute to this meaningful mission, and we look forward to continuing our journey with UPA in creating more opportunities for the next generation of athletes.”
“This marks a significant milestone for Luzz in Asia. We’re proud to support the growth of pickleball, empower the next generation of athletes, and contribute to the sport’s development across the region,” said Diken Chan, CEO, Asia, at Luzz Pickleball.
JOOLA, Facolos, and Luzz Are Top of the Line
JOOLA is arguably the no. 1 brand worldwide in terms of paddles and continues to be at the forefront of innovation in pickleball. It is the brand of choice of some of the world’s elite players, and through this renewed partnership, it will be equipping select Trailblazers with high-performance paddles just as it does for the pros.
Vietnam-based Facolos, on the other hand, is the rising power among Asian brands. Standing at the forefront of expanding pickleball across the region, Facolos brings cutting-edge paddle design that enhances gameplay and presence on court. With its partnership with the UPA, it will be providing Asia’s rising pickleball talent with its top-of-the-line equipment as it helps players from the region achieve their pickleball dreams.
Founded in 2019, Luzz Pickleball takes its name from the Spanish word Luz, meaning light and brightness. The brand has built global recognition as a high-performance paddle manufacturer across more than 20 territories and has been growing the sport in the region as well. With this UPA partnership, Luzz is set to bring that same commitment to growth and development to the Trailblazers Programme.
UPA Asia Trailblazers Programme: Finding Asia’s Pickleball Superstars
Class of 2025 athlete Kim Eunggwon has proven the impact of both the programme and JOOLA’s support. Since returning from his training and competition stint in the USA, Kim now sits at no. 1 in the Men’s Doubles rankings for PPA Tour Asia.
Yufei Long, another Class of 2025 Trailblazer like Eunggwon, is further proof that the programme can identify and nurture top-tier talent. Since returning from her training and competition stint in the USA as part of Season 1, Long has claimed four PPA Tour Asia gold medals and risen to no. 1 in the Women’s Singles Asia rankings.
Following the success of Season 1, the programme returns for its second edition. The Class of 2026 will be revealed in March after shortlisted candidates complete the Pre-selection Training Camp at Infinity Academy in Ho Chi Minh City under head coach Collin Johns this December. Top performers will secure a 2-year UPA Asia Pro Contract and a fully-funded, six-week immersion in the USA.
