Pickleball paddles and a ball on the court. Invented in 1965, the sport really took off during the pandemic. — 123rf.com
SHAH ALAM: Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari has announced that the state intends to introduce pickleball as a medal sport in the 2026 Malaysia Games (Sukma).
He noted that pickleball is gaining popularity among locals, and sports experts are projecting the Asian region to become a global hub for the sport, with an additional 100 million new players expected in the next five years.
"An interesting aspect of pickleball is its inclusiveness; regardless of age or gender, everyone can participate.
"Selangor also aims to be the first state to organise the sport of pickleball in the Malaysia Games when it hosts Sukma 2026," he said during the tabling of the 2025 Selangor Budget at the Selangor State Legislative Assembly on Friday (Nov 15).
Amirudin mentioned that to prepare pickleball athletes, the state government would organise the Selangor Pickleball Festival, including the Selangor Pickleball International Open Championships, aiming to attract more visitors in conjunction with the 2025 Visit Selangor Year.
He added that this effort would involve school and district-level competitions to generate interest in the sport among youngsters and cultivate new talent.
"Local authorities will also construct more pickleball court facilities in public parks by converting badminton courts located in open spaces, as badminton is more suitable for indoor play," he said, adding that RM1mil is allocated for this purpose.
Regarding SUKMA 2026, Amirudin announced a RM6mil allocation for the implementation of a Sports Development Programme to ensure the Selangor contingent is well-prepared for the 22nd edition of the biennial Games.
Selangor last hosted Sukma in 1998, winning 80 gold medals — a record that has yet to be broken. – Bernama
