Pickleball's big month in Malaysia: KL hosts world pros, the Toyota tour reaches Subang, and the national team reached the World Cup knockouts

September has been one of Malaysian pickleball's busiest months. Kuala Lumpur hosted some of the world's best professionals, a nationwide amateur tour is reaching its final stop, and the national team has just come back from the World Cup.

World pros at the KL Cup

The Leapmotor Kuala Lumpur Cup, a PPA Asia 1000 event, took place at The Hood, Kuala Lumpur from 9 to 13 September. PPA Tour Asia says it offered up to US$300,000 in prize money and 1,000 world ranking points. There were pro and amateur divisions, with age groups from under-18 up to 50-and-over.

According to SAYS, these were the champions:

• Men's singles: Tama Shimabukuro beat Noe Khlif 11-8, 11-5
• Women's singles: Kaitlyn Christian beat Brooke Buckner 9-11, 11-4, 11-5
• Men's doubles: Gabriel Tardio/Noe Khlif beat Augustus Ge/Len Yang 11-9, 11-4
• Women's doubles: Jessie Irvine/Alix Truong beat Sahra Dennehy/Danni-Elle Townsend 5-11, 11-5, 11-6
• Mixed doubles: Gabriel Tardio/Jessie Irvine beat Danni-Elle Townsend/Joey Wild 5-11, 11-3, 12-10

Gabriel Tardio won two titles on his first appearance in Malaysia, and Jessie Irvine also left with two golds. The PPA Tour Asia goes to Hong Kong next, for the Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam (19–25 October) at Kai Tak Arena.

Toyota tour ends in Subang Jaya

The Toyota Malaysia Pickle Tour 2026, run by UMW Toyota Motor, is a five-city series with RM175,000 in total prize money. It reaches its fifth and last stop at PLAYA Racquet Club, Subang Jaya on 26–27 September, after Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Johor Bahru and George Town.

The format is called "Solo Entry. Team Glory". Players sign up individually and the organisers put them into teams at random. That means beginners and experienced players can end up on the same side. Each stop pays prize money to the top 10, starting at RM10,000 plus a gold medal for the winners. It's open to Malaysians aged 7 and above, and every stop also has open play sessions and beginner clinics.

Malaysia at the World Cup

Earlier this month, Malaysia's senior team played at the Pickleball World Cup 2026 in Da Nang, Vietnam. Pickle361 reports that the team beat Jamaica 5-0 and Brazil 4-2 to top their group. They then lost 3-4 to the Netherlands in the round of 32. Malaysia won the mixed doubles and men's singles in that tie and led after the first two games, but the Dutch came back.

The squad was captained by Jimmy Liong and included Sabrina Gee, Loh Shi Sheng, Joey Yan Wong, Syduzii, Timmm Foo, Neem Shamsuddin and Mia Azizul. Pickle361 adds that the group-stage run was shown on TV back home.

A sport that brings people together

A Borneo Post column published after Malaysia Day links the game to national unity. It describes a sport of "different backgrounds, one shared rally". It also notes that the Malaysia Pickleball Association was founded in Miri in 2019, and that pickleball is now played in towns across Sabah, from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau and Sandakan.

Key takeaways

• The PPA Asia 1000 Kuala Lumpur Cup (9–13 Sept) brought top international pros to The Hood, KL.
• The Toyota Malaysia Pickle Tour finishes at PLAYA Racquet Club, Subang Jaya, on 26–27 September.
• Malaysia's senior team topped its World Cup group, then lost 3-4 to the Netherlands.
• Grassroots tours now offer beginner clinics as well as prize money.

FAQ

Can beginners enter the Toyota Malaysia Pickle Tour? Yes. It's open to Malaysians aged seven and above, players are put into teams at random, and each stop runs beginner clinics.

Who won men's singles at the KL Cup? Tama Shimabukuro, who beat Noe Khlif 11-8, 11-5.

Where does the PPA Tour Asia go next? Hong Kong, for the Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam from 19 to 25 October.

Sources: SAYS, PPA Tour Asia, ZigWheels Malaysia, Pickle361, Borneo Post Online