Elaine Fong Yee Ling
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will host the Borneo International Pickleball Open 2026 from Oct 16 to 18, offering more than RM30,000 in cash prizes, trophies and goodies.
Organising Chairperson Datin Elaine Fong Yee Ling said the tournament is organised by Borneo Kelab Rekreasi Pickleball and sanctioned by the Sabah Pickleball Association, with The Good Club as the official venue partner.
The event is supported by Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry and Explore Sabah.
The opening ceremony will be held at 10am on Oct 16 at The Good Club, TL1019, Jalan Mat Salleh, Tanjung Aru.
Fong said the tournament would feature three divisions with several categories, namely Open Mixed Doubles, Intermediate Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Novice Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles.
The Open Mixed Doubles category offers RM5,000 for the champion, RM2,500 for the runner-up and RM1,200 for third place.
For the Intermediate Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles categories, the champions will receive RM2,800, runners-up RM1,400 and third-placed winners RM700 each.
For the Novice Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles categories, the champions will receive RM1,200, runners-up RM600 and third-placed winners RM300 each.
Fong said all winners would also receive unique trophies featuring Borneo’s proboscis monkey to reflect Sabah’s iconic wildlife.
She said supportive members of the local community had contributed to the colouring process of the trophies.
“We are killing two birds with one stone. With the help of international competitions like the Borneo International Pickleball Open 2026, we are not only promoting healthy sports development but also boosting Sabah’s tourism growth by getting first-time visitors from other parts of the world to set foot in the State,” she said in a statement.
Fong said 536 players from various countries and regions, including Japan, the United States, Singapore, Vietnam, China and Brunei, are expected to take part.
She said the organisers had also invited 26 selected influencers, sports and entertainment personalities from Hong Kong, China and Taiwan to participate in the tournament.
“The aim is to expose Sabah to the rest of the world so that through their sharing, more international audiences will get to know about this Land Below The Wind which is rated as not only an ideal tourist destination, but also a place suitable for international sports events,” she said.
Among the personalities taking part are Protech Ambassadors Perry Kuan and Chan Peng Soon, Hong Kong actor, sports and lifestyle personality Hugo Wong, Hong Kong Sports Creator Samantha Wong, and Miss International Macau 2016 Sulin Ip.
Sabah residents interested in taking part may contact Christy Keoh Wen Jing at 016-8304710.
