Sixty per cent growth in one year. Sabah’s women’s pickleball community is not quietly growing. It is surging.
The Women’s Pickleball Championship 2026 wrapped up on 12 July after two days of doubles competition at Kota Kinabalu, drawing 160 players representing 80 teams from across Sabah—up from 50 teams at last year’s inaugural edition. Players made the journey from Tawau, Keningau, Kota Belud, and Kudat to compete, reflecting the sport’s reach well beyond the state capital.
The tournament was jointly organised by Bounce Pickleball Club and DPPC Ladies, and officially opened by Datin Noriah Pangeran Ahmad, wife of the State Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, representing the wife of the Chief Minister.
Nur Zahiera Putri Ismail, organising chairperson and Bounce Pickleball Club president, was candid about what the participation numbers mean—and what they say about where the sport is headed among women in Sabah.
“Participation increased from 50 teams during last year’s inaugural tournament to 80 teams this year,” she said, “reflecting growing interest in pickleball among women in Sabah.”
The championship featured three categories—Novice, Intermediate, and Veteran—with the Veteran division introduced this year specifically for players aged 40 and above. That addition is significant. Pickleball has always attracted older players for good reason: the compact court, the lower physical demand relative to tennis, and the social nature of doubles play make it particularly well-suited to athletes who want to compete without the physical toll of more demanding racket sports. Creating a dedicated competitive pathway for women 40 and above acknowledges that demographic and gives it something to play for.
The total prize pool across the three categories stood at RM30,000, which is a meaningful figure for a regional women’s tournament that only held its inaugural edition twelve months ago.
From 50 teams to 80. From one state hub to five towns represented. From a first-time event to a growing fixture on Sabah’s sporting calendar. The Women’s Pickleball Championship is building something real, and the sport behind it is clearly carrying it forward.
