Kota Kinabalu: Hospital Universiti Malaysia Sabah (HUMS) and the Sabah Pickleball Association (Sapa) held Sabah’s first Juniors Open Pickleball Tournament on Monday (Jan 20).
The curtain raiser for pickleball tournaments for Sabah in 2025 was organised by HUMS Welfare and Recreation Club.
Sapa President Julita Akabal said the tournament was intended among others to unearth new talent and encourage new players to providing veterans high quality local competition to prepare for inter-state and international events.
“The tournament was divided into Novice and Intermediate categories, to encourage new and less experienced players to garner competition experience without fear of being overwhelmed or dominated by State players.
“The tournament featured 30 junior players between ages 7 to 17, representing more than 10 primary and secondary schools, and even featuring two players with British nationality,” she said.
In the U12 male doubles category, Muhammad Ammar Asyraf and Ivanovic Saniyil, both from SK Malawa, achieved victory in the novice category for beginner players, whereas Dominic Ziquan Pang from SJK (C) St James and Seth Ooi Jhu Fen from SRS Datuk Simon Fung were the winners of the Intermediate category for tournament level players.
For the U12 female doubles category, Nursuhannah Mohd Shahnaz and Nurshahirah Mohd Shahnaz, both from SJK (C) Yick Nam, were the victors in the novice category.
The U17 female doubles novice category was won by Sarah and Eliana Sandah from SMK St Francis Convent.
The U17 male category had plenty of high level players competing. The U17 intermediate category was won by Nathan and Samuel Guansing, who narrowly pipped Golden Chong Hon Yee and Jayden Jay Ng from SMJK Shan Tao into second place.
Third place finishers were Ravin Tampi and Jayden Tiu from SM All Saints.
HUMS Director Associate Professor Dr Malehah Mohd Noh commended pickleball as being part of a very important public health strategy especially for younger people, who are currently inundated with the twin evils of smartphone addiction and obesity.
“I am pleased to see many young people join and was happy that for a new sport, there has been such high level of visibility, regular training and competition.
“I hope that Sapa and HUMS will organise more junior pickleball tournaments and regular matches, as well as the UMS Pickleball Arena reaching tournament standard one day,” she said during the closing ceremonies and prize awards.
