PETALING JAYA: Will Peng Soon trade his badminton racquet for a pickleball bat?
He may if his interest in the sport is anything to go by.
On Dec 14, Peng Soon officially launched the Malaysia’s largest indoor air-conditioned Pickleball Venue and CPS Subang – a centre that has 16 badminton and 18 pickleball courts at 91 Sports Arena @ Giant USJ.
The veteran shuttler has entered the Malaysia Book of Records for opening the largest pickleball centre.
They also have a good outlet at the top floor.
“Who knows, one day, I may represent Malaysia in this sport!” said Peng Soon, who is the owner of the places with another partner.
But right now, Peng Soon is excited to make his new venture grow.
He has already started the CPS badminton academy to nurture young talents and his newest centre in Subang is to accommodate the public’s big demand for badminton courts and the growing interest in pickleball.
Since ending his mix-doubles partnership with Goh Liu Ying in 2021 and retiring from the sport early this year, Peng Soon has been on a lookout to keep himself on the toes.
“After retirement, I tried playing pickleball for fun but I got hooked on it,” said Peng Soon, who won an Olympic Games silver with Goh Liu Ying at the 2016 Rio Janeiro Games.
“I saw that the sport has big following and it gave me an idea to combine both at one centre... that’s how this place came about.”
He is grateful to all the sponsors such as Daikin, Seiko, XP Protech and Thong Sia Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
“One of the plans is to host competitions but it all depends on our sponsors,” added the 36-year-old Peng Soon.
