Smashing into South-east Asia: Why pickleball is the region’s newest obsession

LUNAR New Year festivities with a side of pickleball? Why not, say avid players of the latest sport to take the region by storm.

Pickleball – which combines aspects of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, but also has its own rules and equipment – is rapidly gaining popularity in South-east Asia. More people in countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia are taking up the activity, drawn by its unique blend of accessibility, social interaction, and health benefits.

Pickleball court operators and coaches across the region note that it is particularly appealing to the younger generation, thanks to videos of the sport that have gone viral online and the influence of celebrities, such as the Kardashians and Selena Gomez, who are said to be avid players.