If pickleball is to continue its unprecedented rise in Malaysia, schools will need to get involved institutionally at some point.
That’s the overriding message of Sibu Pickleball Association (SPA) President and Bukit Assek Assembyman Joseph Chieng when he led the SPA’s visit to SMK Agama Sibu and SM Kiang Hin, two academic institutions in Sibu, Sarawak in Malaysia. During the visit, the association handed over pickleball equipment to the two schools as part of its mission of growing the world’s fastest-rising sport in the region.
The equipment the SPA donated includedpaddles, balls, and nets. The association also handed over basic training and teaching resources to spark pickleball interest among the students in the two schools.
Schools Need to Establish Pickleball Clubs
Specifically, Chieng wants to see schools establishing pickleball clubs as these he says will ensure the future growth of the sport not only in Sibu but also in Malaysia in general.
“We believe that school clubs are key to the long-term growth of pickleball, allowing students not only to learn skills but also to keep practising as part of their daily lives,” said
Along with making the equipment donations, the association also inspected the facilities of both SMK Agama Sibu and SM Kiang Hin as it looks to further promote the sport through a schools-based approach.
More Schools Are Getting in on the Pickleball Scene
According to Chieng, both SMK Agama Sibu and SM Kiang Hin will establish pickleball clubs real soon—a development Chieng and the SPA are certainly excited about.
“With the addition of these two schools, there are now 13 secondary schools in Sibu that have set up pickleball clubs,” he said. “This marks a significant step forward in promoting the sport locally and reflects a shared vision among schools to enrich their sports offerings.”
Promoting the sport of pickleball has been in the DNA of the SPA, which has already committed to building a pickleball stadium and holding its first inter-secondary school competition in the very near future. It also aims to discover and cultivate local talent and foster grassroots development in a country that has fallen in love with pickleball.
