Photo shows Josie (centre), flanked by Elaine (on her left) and Shu Lan, with the organisers, sponsors and pickleball celebrities.
By JT
KOTA KINABALU: The inaugural Borneo International Pickleball Open 2026 attracted some 536 participants from Malaysia (including Sabah), Singapore, United States, China and Taiwan over a three-day competition which ends on Sunday (October 18).
It was co-organised by Borneo Kelab Rekreasi Pickleball and Megas Mind Creative & Development, and supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, and Explore Sabah.
Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Josie Lai officiated at the event on Friday, accompanied by the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) deputy chief executive officer Tay Shu Lan, at The Good Club, a sports club which houses the biggest pickleball court building in Sabah, and is the only such facility with a padel court.
Director of The Good Club, Ryan Chu, when met at the venue, said the nine high-quality pickleball courts were completed at a cost of more than RM3 million, and opened only last month in preparation for the Borneo International Pickleball Open 2026.
Organising Chairman Datin Elaine Fong Yee Ling, in her welcoming address, called on foreign players to take the opportunity to explore Sabah, try the local cuisine, and enjoy our beautiful sunset. “We hope you will take home happy memories and come back to visit us again,” she said.
She expressed her gratitude to the Ministry, Tourism Malaysia Sabah, and STB for their strong support in promoting the event nationally and internationally, especially through the Sabah Trade and Tourism Office (STTO) in Singapore.
“And I am glad that The Good Club is our official venue partner, not forgetting Protech Sports, our official equipment partner as well as our official strategic partners – Amity Wong (Director of I-World Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd) and Sheena Wong (Director of Sense Vacation),” said Elaine who is the Director of Megas Mind Creative & Development.
Hong Kong celebrity Hugo Wong, who flew in to support the event at the invitation of the organising chairman, partnered Josie in an invitation match to mark the opening ceremony.
US participant from Tennessee Robert McManus was impressed with the six indoor and three outdoor pickleball courts, saying they can accommodate as many as 500 participants. “It’s amazing. The Good Club is a good organisation, and the competition co-organisers have done an excellent job in drawing the crowd,” he remarked. “It shows that pickleball is becoming increasingly popular in Sabah.”
Protech’s Brand Ambassador Perry Kuan from Kuala Lumpur, when interviewed, said he was happy to promote a Malaysian brand and would continue to do so as long as his service was needed, after partnering Sandakan’s Amber Quek Siau Xue, an indoor cycling instructor from X-Spinning Studio, in an invitation match. As an avid pickleball player, Penang-born Perry is rated as Malaysia’s Pickleball Personality.
Also present were Deputy Director of Tourism Malaysia Sabah, Khairul Amir Anuar, Managing Director of Protech Sports, Datuk Ronnie Chong, Director of Musee Bistro, Datuk Li Su Fook, Borneo Suites Director Louis Tiong, and Vice-President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS), Datuk Fung Chun Fatt.
