Voting for the Unified World Pickleball Federation (UWPF) Board of Directors was officially completed during the International Pickleball Federation’s AGM on 30 August 2025—and with it, the federation’s very first set of leaders were named.
The seven-person Board spanned representatives from seven countries across three continents. Asia, a continent fast emerging as a pickleball hotbed, won four seats on the Board, reinforcing yet again its growing influence in the pickleball landscape. The seven members of the UWPF are:
- Rika Riordan of Japan
- Allen Zeng of China
- Jimmy Tan of Asia
- Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen of Malaysia
- Miguel Montaño Freire of Spain
- Giulia Soresina of Italy
- Kim Janice Wagner of South Africa
Farrell Choo Kah Thiam, President of the Malaysia Pickleball Association, called Dr Yii’s inclusion on the UWPF Board a “Historic Moment for Malaysia and Sarawak!” in a social media post announcing the development.
“On 30th August 2025, the Unified World Pickleball Federation elected its first-ever Board of Directors, and Malaysia is on the global stage! Congratulations to Dr Kelvin Yii from Sarawak for being elected into the inaugural Board of Directors,” Choo further wrote. “This is a proud milestone for Malaysia and Sarawakians, as we help shape the future of pickleball worldwide, and work towards the Olympic dream.”
As historic a moment as this is for Malaysia, whose pickleball landscape is arguably among the world’s most active and passionate, the selection of this Board is also a watershed moment for the sport in general. Long fragmented, and in search of a unified identity, the International Pickleball Federation is working double time to change all that—and the creation of the UWPF is a step in that direction for sure.
Now, the UWPF has a Board of Directors to chart the way forward, and expect nothing less than big things from Dr Yii and company.
The future of global pickleball, indeed, is in great hands.
