KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s burgeoning pickleball community marked a significant milestone with the successful hosting of its first-ever Pickleball Summit 2025 and the inaugural Alliance Bank KL Open Pickleball Championship 2025. Organised by Courtsite in partnership with Alliance Bank, with strong support from the Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia and the Malaysia Pickleball Association, the events held at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club and Pickle Social Club respectively, showcased the rapid growth and future potential of the sport in the nation.
The Alliance Bank KL Open Pickleball Championship 2025 has attracted an impressive 656 players from 13 countries. This three-day event is a vibrant display of high-energy competition, camaraderie, and celebration, right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. With every match officially rated by DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating), players at intermediate and open levels are fiercely competing for rankings, pride, and valuable progress on an international platform. This championship signifies a bold new chapter for pickleball in Malaysia, highlighting the nation’s increasing prominence in the global pickleball arena and setting a positive trajectory for the sport’s future.
YB Hannah Yeoh, Youth & Sports Minister Malaysia, who officiated the events, remarked, “The first-ever KL Open is a milestone for Malaysia’s fast-growing pickleball community. With close to 400 venues and over 1,400 courts now bookable across the country, it’s clear that Malaysians are embracing new ways to stay active. The Ministry supports emerging sports that build healthier lifestyles and stronger community connections.”
Gan Pai Li, Group Chief Consumer Banking Officer of Alliance Bank, expressed pride in being the first financial institution in the country to champion pickleball alongside Courtsite and Pickle Social Club. “The pickleball community is fast growing and has become a social fabric. We have seen friendships formed and families spending more time together on the courts. It is amazing to see how a paddle, a plastic ball and a shared love for the game can bring people of all ages together,” she said.
She also highlighted Alliance Bank’s role in facilitating the sport’s accessibility through their Virtual Credit Card (VCC), which integrates with partner apps for seamless digital court bookings. “With perks like priority court bookings and special cashback offers, the VCC enhances the pickleball experience while demonstrating the security, convenience, and flexibility of digital-first banking,” she added, emphasizing the bank’s commitment to collaborating with community lifestyle app providers to improve access to partner offerings through digital payments.
Prior to the championship, The Pickleball Summit 2025 brought together over 300 facility owners, vendors, investors, tech innovators, industry leaders, and officials from the town council and Ministry of Youth and Sports. This pivotal summit aimed to shape the future direction of the rapidly expanding pickleball industry in Malaysia, which now boasts over 400 venues and 1,400 courts. The full-day event featured insightful market discussions led by industry panels across three sessions: “The Business of Pickleball – Game. Growth. Goldmine?”, “From Made in Malaysia to Made by Malaysia,” and “Scaling Up: What Players, Hosts & Clubs Really Want.”
Two spotlight sessions further enriched the summit, with MAPEI Malaysia presenting “5 Things to Know About Choosing the Right Flooring Surface” and American guest speakers sharing insights on “The Future is Rated” with DUPR, exploring the power of ratings, data, and global player benchmarking. An exhibition area and interactive booth spaces allowed attendees to connect with court builders, flooring experts, tech vendors, and branded showcases, fostering connections and solutions for their own projects.
Samuel Siew, CEO of Courtsite & Organizing Chairman for both events, highlighted the rapid growth of pickleball in Malaysia and the role of technology in connecting players to courts. “In just over nine months, we’ve powered 167,000 bookings across 150 venues and 878 courts. The KL Open and Pickleball Summit are made possible thanks to our incredible sponsors and partners — and together, we’re driving the future of sport forward, from social play to grassroots and competition,” he stated.
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Both The Pickleball Summit 2025 and the Alliance Bank KL Open Pickleball Championship 2025 are made possible through the invaluable support of partners, including Platinum sponsor and Title Sponsor Alliance Bank, and Gold sponsors Protech Sports, Subway Malaysia & Jamaica Blue Coffee, MONTIGO, and Canon Malaysia.
Pickleball enthusiasts and sports lovers can stream the Alliance Bank KL Open Pickleball Championship 2025 live on the Baseline App.
For more information, visit www.courtsite.my or follow Courtsite on Facebook (www.facebook.com/courtsite) and Instagram (@courtsite).
