Petaling Jaya, July 16-17, 2025 — The first-ever Asia Pickleball Summit (APS) was successfully held at One World Hotel, Petaling Jaya, underscoring Malaysia’s pioneering role in Asia’s fastest-growing sport. The summit gathered global pioneers, innovators, and change-makers to spark a new chapter for Pickleball in Asia.
This historic event was organized by Malaysia-based global online learning platform ReSkills EdTech, co-hosted by AFA Community and AsiaPickleball TV, officially endorsed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia (KBS), and fully supported by the Malaysia Pickleball Association (MPA)—marking a key milestone in the emerging Asian sports landscape.
Why Did ReSkills Host the Asia Pickleball Summit?
ReSkills Founder and APS Initiator Jin Tan said:
“We are promoting this sport to create more possibilities for Asia’s youth through empowerment through sports.”
He pointed out that as Pickleball surges globally, Asia is poised for unprecedented growth and Malaysia is riding the frontlines. In the past 90 days alone, over 57,555 activities were hosted nationwide, 3,916 clubs were formed, and 143,269 players are actively engaged ranking first in Asia.
“These figures are no accident, they are the result of uniting education, technology, and community.”
The birth of APS is an extension of ReSkills’ long-standing mission of “Empowerment Through Education.” As a Malaysian-founded global learning platform, ReSkills views Pickleball not just as a sport, but also as an educational tool and a language for cross-cultural exchange.
APS envisions a cross-sector platform spanning education, sports, and technology, fully supporting athlete development, brand expansion, policy advocacy, and community building, positioning Malaysia as Asia’s Pickleball hub and shaping future trends.
“APS is where passion meets opportunity. Through Pickleball, we connect Asia and ignite the spark of learning.”
Event Highlights
500+ Attendees · Speakers & International Leaders from 14 Countries
The summit invited 28 prominent speakers representing 14 countries, including Malaysia, USA, Japan, the Philippines, India, Australia, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Hong Kong.
Over the two days, the summit attracted more than 450 professionals from government, business, education, and sports, making it one of the most impactful Pickleball summits in Asia.
International Speakers & Leaders
- Steve Kuhn – Founder of DUPR / MLP (USA)
- Josh Jenkins – Head of Education, Racketpro (Team Joola) (USA)
- Jan Papi – Founder, WPC & Pickleball Global (USA)
- Rafael Filippini – CEO, Gearbox (USA)
- Tuan “Tony” Ho – Founder & CEO, Reclub (USA)
- Vincent Tran – Founder, @vinnypickleball (USA)
- Seymour Rifkind – President, IPTPA (USA)
- Alex Yuen – President, Ramsports (Hong Kong)
- Dylan Damsma – CTO & Founder, Baseline (Netherlands)
- Arvind Prabhoo – President, International Pickleball Federation & All India Pickleball Association (India)
- Dr. Sunil Peshane – Vice President, IPF (India)
- Gaurav Nateker – Founder, World Pickleball League (India)
- Han Byul Jang – Artist / KOL @onestarbyul (Korea)
- Connor Nguyen – Sports Entrepreneur & Master Coach (Vietnam)
- Jessica Vo – Co-founder, Facolos Vietnam (Vietnam)
- Diken Chan – Co-Founder & Asia CEO, Luzz Pickleball (China)
- Jeovanne Poernomo – Founder, Performance Pickleball (Singapore)
- Mo Ammarita – Professional Pickleball Player (Thailand)
- Chen Chow Yeoh – Founder, 1% Advisory & Coaching (Malaysia)
- Sam Shafie – CEO & Co-Founder, pitchIN (Malaysia)
- Jin Tan – Founder, ReSkills (Malaysia)
- Raymond H’ng – Founder, AFA (Malaysia)
- Shaun Lim – Director, Excelsports (Malaysia)
- Peter Seow – Founder, Asia Pickleball TV (Malaysia)
- Syed Muhammad Hanif – Senior Physiotherapist, Gleneagles Hospital (Malaysia)
- Neem Shamsuddin – Malaysia’s No. 1 Women’s Pickleball Player (Malaysia)
- Mizal Ghazali – Co-Founder & Director, 36Five X (Malaysia)
- Delima – Acting President, MPA & President, Sarawak Pickleball Association (Malaysia)
Transformative Outcomes of APS25
The Asia Pickleball Summit was not just a sporting event, it was a strategic cross-sector convergence that gave new momentum to Malaysia’s Pickleball ecosystem. The summit enabled synergy between sports, education, healthcare, and finance, while promoting public health and strengthening community engagement.
The event successfully attracted youth and women, demonstrating Pickleball’s inclusiveness and mass participation potential. International coaches, businesses, and institutions began collaborative conversations, laying the groundwork for regional development.
These developments signal a shift for Pickleball from a casual sport to an education- and economy-integrated movement. Malaysia is now rapidly establishing itself as the central hub for Pickleball in Asia.
Minister of Youth & Sports Malaysia, YB Hannah Yeoh:
“Pickleball is not just a sport, it’s an opportunity to redefine education, community building, and youth empowerment.”
She emphasized the sport’s accessibility, affordability, and community-building value across all age groups, particularly for women and senior citizens.
Since its official recognition as a government-endorsed sport in 2023, eligible bodies can now apply for sports grants, community funding, and up to RM1,000 in tax relief. Pickleball has been included in the KBS-led Master Games, and efforts are underway to integrate it into school-level tournaments (MSSD) to groom national athletes from a young age.
She also highlighted that sports legends such as Lee Chong Wei, Nicol David, and Cheah Liek Hou have joined the promotion efforts, reinforcing Malaysia’s emerging leadership in Asia.
Sports as Education — ReSkills Ignites a New Learning Era
As the host and driver of APS, ReSkills is well-recognized in Malaysia and Asia. This summit is a bold extension of its “Empowerment Through Education” mission: showcasing how sports can be an educational platform to spark passion and youth growth.
APS Organizing Chairperson Ken Lim stated:
“Sports is education in motion. APS is where thought meets action, and Malaysia proudly stands at its epicenter.”
Through ReSkills, Pickleball becomes more than a match, it becomes a classroom. More than a game, it becomes empowerment. The summit continues to integrate sports, education, and technology, making “Everyone Can Learn” a reality on and off the court.
MAXIS Powers Innovation – A Symbol of National Pride
As the main sponsor of APS, Maxis Berhad – Malaysia’s trusted and leading tech company, played a critical role in making this regional summit a success. This wasn’t just sponsorship, it was national-level recognition of Pickleball’s immense growth potential.
Maxis’ longstanding commitment to digital innovation, youth empowerment, and community-building aligns closely with APS’s vision. By supporting APS, Maxis exemplifies how companies can lead the integration of technology and sports to uplift society.
As Malaysia chairs ASEAN 2025, the Asia Pickleball Summit stands not only as a major milestone in sport, but also as a symbol of Malaysia’s commitment to shaping a united and innovative Asia.
Partner & Sponsor Acknowledgements:
Title Sponsor: Maxis
Brand Sponsors: Excel Sports, Franklin, Luzz Pickleball, Ramsports, Arronax, Vegoo, Facolos
Support Partners: Shopee, ReClub, DUPR, Rakan Muda, Majlis Belia Negeri Selangor, Baseline, Graduan
F&B Support: Famous Amos, O’Brian, Starbucks, Vanilla Crepes
Media & Promotion Partners: Pickle Kopitiam, ICONS by KidChan, Paddle Club, The Pickleball Gang, PickleballA, Ichidong, Pickle361, JCI Malaysia Area Central
Transport Partner: GoMyHire
Media Partner: Delight Media
Official Production Team: WhyNot Studio
Looking Ahead: Pickleball’s Long-Term Future
As Malaysia leads ASEAN 2025, APS25 marks a pivotal point, not just for sports development but for Malaysia’s vision of regional leadership in unity, innovation, and active living.
ReSkills affirms that this summit is just the beginning. The platform will continue advancing Pickleball’s role in education, community building, and wellbeing. It will launch structured curriculum plans and encourage more grassroots and enterprise involvement.
ReSkills is committed to working with local and international stakeholders to position Pickleball as an inclusive, accessible, and impactful sport for all. With collective efforts, Malaysia will become a fertile ground for Pickleball’s growth. Transforming it into a sport with true educational and health value.
More details: www.asiapickleballsummit.com
