Photo Credits to: Mihae Kwon
UPA Asia has announced the Trailblazers Program Season 2 Class of 2026, naming 16 athletes split between Trailblazers and Rising Stars after an intensive December pre-selection camp at Infinity Academy.
Designed as a structured pathway rather than a one-off selection, the program combines high-performance training, media development, and tour opportunities - aimed at helping players sharpen their games, grow their profiles, and step more confidently into professional pickleball.
Eight athletes were selected as Trailblazers, earning two-year UPA Asia Pro Contracts and a six-week immersion in the United States. UPA Asia says the Trailblazers will train under top coaches at world-class facilities, receive comprehensive media training, and compete on the Carvana PPA Tour.
Another eight athletes were named Rising Stars, each securing a one-year UPA Asia Pro Contract with athlete pathway assistance, media training, and development support as they establish themselves on PPA Tour Asia.
The Class Of 2026: Trailblazers And Rising Stars
Trailblazers: Tya Karina Aditya (INA), Julian Chow (HKG), Mihae Kwon (KOR), Dang Ngo (VIE), Tang Nok Yiu (HKG), Syed Uzair (MAS), Colin Wong (MAS), Anni Xie (CHN).
Rising Stars: Timothy Foo (MAS), Yunqi He (CHN), Paranya Jareonvongrayab (THA), Pei-Yu Lai (TPE), Longsheng Liu (CHN), Christian Josua Luna (PHI), Anh Hoang Nguyen (VIE), Seina Shima (JPN).
While the announcement focuses on pathway and opportunity, UPA Asia’s message is clear: these selections represent the region’s top talent - athletes already shaped by competitive environments and now being supported with contracts, coaching access, and consistent tour-level exposure to help turn strong runs into sustained pro results.
Photo Credits to: Colin Wong
From Shortlist To Selection: Infinity Academy’s Role
The December pre-selection camp at Infinity Academy served as the key proving ground, with shortlisted athletes training through an intensive evaluation phase before UPA Asia confirmed the final Class of 2026.
Infinity Academy CEO Minh Anh Pham described the partnership as both an institutional milestone and a marker of Vietnam’s growing pickleball footprint:
“We are thrilled to partner with UPA Asia to bring the Trailblazers program to Vietnam,” said Minh Anh Pham, CEO of Infinity Academy. “This partnership is not only an honor for our Academy but also a major milestone for Vietnam’s growing pickleball community. We can’t wait to welcome the best players in Asia at our Academy.”
UPA Asia has also highlighted Infinity Academy’s Ho Chi Minh City base - underscoring that the regional pathway is being built on dedicated training environments, not just isolated camps.
Photo Credit to: UPA Asia
Pickleball in Asia's Growth, In One Cohort
Taken together, the Class of 2026 reads as more than a roster. It’s a snapshot of pickleball’s accelerating professionalization across Asia: more countries producing high-level contenders, clearer steps into tour play, and development models that reflect what it takes to succeed in modern pro sport - performance, preparation, and visibility.
With two contract tiers and defined competition tracks in Asia and the U.S., UPA Asia is betting the region’s next leap won’t come from isolated breakout moments, but from repeatable pathways - built to produce not just standout players, but consistent professionals.
