Photo Credits to: MATTA Fair KL
KUCHING—Sarawak’s capital is buzzing this week as the inaugural MATTA Malaysia Pickleball Grand Slam 2025 (MPG2025) serves up seven days of competition and community from October 13–19 at Pikabol, Jalan Pending. Organised by the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), the event marks the association’s first formal venture into sports tourism and has attracted 811 registered players—part of more than 800 competitors arriving from Malaysia and 10 other countries, according to MATTA.
Diverse Lineup, Unified Goal
Players span Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, India, Vietnam and the United States, alongside a deep Malaysian field. Organisers expect the venue and surrounding areas to welcome more than 2,400 athletes, family members and supporters over the week, bolstering hotel occupancy, dining and local transport.
“One of the reasons we wanted to do this is because we believe Malaysia is the next major destination for sports tourism, especially in the ASEAN region,” said MATTA President Nigel Wong during a Team Draw Briefing at the Meritin Hotel in Kuching. He added that the Grand Slam is “a celebration of connection, unity, and Malaysia’s potential as a premier sports tourism destination.”
Photo Credits to: MATTA Fair KL
Why Kuching as Host City
Wong said Sarawak stood out for its active pickleball community and rising tourism profile. “We believe many of Malaysia’s pickleball associations originated from Sarawak. There’s a huge pool of passionate players here, and the level of engagement…was one of the key reasons we brought the event to Kuching,” he noted.
Wong also thanked public-sector partners and event sponsors for helping land the Grand Slam in Kuching, citing the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MYSED) for strong backing. He said the response “surpassed expectations,” underscoring Sarawak’s readiness to host large, participatory events that blend competition with tourism.
The event at a glance
- Dates: October 13–19, 2025
- Venue: Pikabol, Jalan Pending, Kuching
- Players: 811 (more than 800 from Malaysia and 10 other countries)
- Nations represented: Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, India, Vietnam, United States
- Expected footfall: 2,400+ athletes, families and supporters
- Prize purse: RM114,000
Kuching’s debut as host has packed courts and welcomed visitors across the week. With 811 players competing for a RM114,000 purse and thousands more attending, MPG2025 marks MATTA’s first step into sports tourism and adds a sizeable participation event to Sarawak’s calendar—grounded in the state’s established pickleball community and supported by MOTAC and MYSED.
