The Panas Malaysia Open 2025 has launched the PPA Tour Asia with four days of top‑tier pickleball at Kuala Lumpur’s 9Pickle complex. Players from across Asia battled for the tour’s first 1,000‑point singles prizes, setting the tone for a season that will visit Hong Kong, Japan and back to Kuala Lumpur.
Women’s Singles Final – Long Yufei Saves Two Championship Points
China’s Long Yufei captured the tour’s first women’s singles trophy after edging Australia’s Nicola Schoeman 3‑11, 12‑10, 11‑5.
“It’s literally blood, sweat and tears in the final. Really emotional, pushing the limits, both me and my opponent,” Long said. “We both felt it, just pushing through Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Through the heat, through everything. It was really a good match. My opponent played really well and pushed me to play my best game. Really proud of this match. I feel like no matter the outcome, even if I had lost, I still would’ve been proud of it.”
The Shenzhen native earns 1,000 PPA Tour Asia ranking points, immediately topping the regional leaderboard.
Men’s Singles Final – Qualifier Trinh Stuns Kapadia
Vietnam’s Trinh Linh Giang surged from the qualification draw to defeat India’s Vanshik Kapadia 12‑10, 11‑7 and deny Kapadia a triple crown. Trinh becomes Vietnam’s first PPA Tour Asia singles champion.
Doubles Round‑Up
- Men’s Doubles: Kapadia and Harsh Mehta claimed gold.
- Mixed Doubles: Kapadia and Schoeman lifted the trophy.
- Women’s Doubles: Jamie Wei and Xiao Yi Wang‑Beckvall beat Long and Kwon Mihae.
Why It Matters for Asian Pickleball
- First Tour Champions – Long and Trinh are now the standard‑bearers for the debut PPA Tour Asia season.
- Momentum Builder – Media coverage and livestream views from Kuala Lumpur signal rising interest in pickleball across Asia.
- Trailblazers Programme Impact – Long is part of the United Pickleball Association’s Asia Trailblazers cohort, underscoring the development pipeline for elite talent.
Next Stop: Hong Kong Open (21–24 August 2025)
The tour shifts to indoor courts at Kai Tak Arena, where another 1,000 points per singles title could reshape the standings. With new clubs opening from Manila to Mumbai, the Hong Kong Open offers a snapshot of pickleball’s rapid growth in Asia and the sport’s expanding fan base.
