Shenzhen, China — The 2025 Pickleball Champions League (PCL) Asia Season 2 Grand Finals delivered a showcase for the region’s fast-rising talent. Twenty-eight teams from seven countries collided for the crown, with Malaysia’s champions, the Bintang Pro Picklers, flying the flag and banking vital big-stage experience. The trophy ultimately went to Team Zhuhai, but Malaysia’s run—marked by high-tempo rallies and packed stands—underscored a program ready to disrupt the regional pecking order.
The Malaysian Quartet That Set the Tone
Captain Safa Kelvin — Veteran Heartbeat
Safa Kelvin steered the Bintang Pro Picklers with the steady hand of a serial winner. Known for tactical clarity and heavy pressure at the kitchen line, he’s been central to raising the standard of men’s doubles in Malaysia.
Select achievements:
- PCL Season 2 Team Event Champion (2025)
- PPA Malaysia Cup 35+ Singles Champion
- Malaysia Top 5, 35+ Men’s Doubles Open
- Two-time defending Ligas Pickleball Tournament champion (2024)
- Men’s Doubles Open AFA Sport dink3 Champion (2024)
- Negeri Sembilan Men’s Doubles Open Champion (2025)
Mirzzy Kelvin — Pro Engine
A Facolos-signed pro and IPTPA Level 2 coach, Mirzzy transferred a tennis pedigree into quick-fire pickleball growth after debuting in July 2024. DUPR ratings—4.696 (doubles) and 4.715 (singles)—reflect a player built for PCL’s pressure-cooker format.
Recent highlights:
- WPC Asia Pickleball Grand Slam Malaysia 2025: Champion (Men’s Doubles 19+ Adv+, Mixed Doubles 19+ Adv+)
- PPA Asia Tour, Vietnam Open 2025: Silver (Men’s Singles 19+ Open)
- PPA Asia Tour, Malaysia Open 2025: Silver (Men’s Doubles 19+ Open); Bronze (Mixed Doubles, Men’s Singles 19+ Open)
- LBS Pickleball Mixed Doubles Cup Edition 2025: Champion (Mixed Doubles Advanced)
- Great Malaysia Pickleball Cup 2025: Silver (Team Event, Team 002)
Kah Yan Ooi — Fearless Two-Way Threat
A multi-sport athlete with heavy drives and stubborn defense, Ooi gave Malaysia punch in both mixed and women’s doubles.
Recent results:
- Skyworth Pickleball Tournament 2025 (Team Event): Champion
- WPC MATTA Malaysia Pickleball Grand Slam (Women’s Doubles 19+ 4.5): First runner-up
- PPA Tour Australia — Perth Pickleball Open 2025 (Women’s Singles 19+ Open 4.0 & above): Second runner-up
- The Flying Pickle Tournament 2025 (Mixed Doubles 19+ Open): First runner-up
- Alliance Bank KL Open Pickleball Championship 2025 (Women’s Doubles 19+ Open): Fourth place
Arianna — Crossover Specialist, Coach’s Eye
A former Malaysia tennis representative at the 2014 ASEAN Games, Arianna has transitioned seamlessly, now coaching full-time while stacking podiums with a structured, high-performance approach.
2025 ledger:
- PCL Season 2 Team Event Champion (Women’s & Mixed Doubles)
- Siam Sketchers Women’s Singles 19+ Open: Champion
- Siam Sketchers Women’s Singles 19+ Advanced: Champion
- Skechers International Tournament (Malaysia Edition) 19+ Singles Open: Champion
- PPA Malaysia Cup 19+ Doubles: Bronze
- Alliance Bank Championship 19+ Women’s Doubles: Bronze
- Siam Sketchers Women’s Doubles 19+ Open: Bronze
- PPA Malaysia Cup 19+ Singles: Semifinalist
- WPC Bali 19+ Advanced Women’s Doubles: Semifinalist
Pickleball in Malaysia: A Program on the Rise
Malaysia’s pickleball scene has moved from pockets of weekend play to a coherent competitive structure powered by clubs, community courts, and a growing calendar of domestic and regional events. The Bintang Pro Picklers’ presence in Shenzhen reflects a deeper shift: better coaching pipelines, stronger doubles pairings, and a shared language of strategy—third-shot drops, transition footwork, and Dreambreaker readiness—now embedded across leading squads. With more juniors sampling the sport and multisport athletes crossing over from tennis and badminton, the talent base is widening and the ceiling keeps rising.
