Professional pickleball is about to reach a new level in Singapore. From July 23 to 26, the PPA Asia 500 Leapmotor Singapore Open will take over The Sports Arena at Singapore EXPO (Hall 10). This marks the country's first taste of a 500-tier PPA Tour Asia event and one of the biggest sporting weekends the island has seen for the sport.
The buzz has been building for weeks. Ahead of the tournament, media, athletes, and pickleball enthusiasts gathered at Pickle & Bones at Trifecta in Somerset for an official media day, getting a preview of what's coming. We caught a glimpse of the sport itself through coaching drills, team battles, and free play.
A Fireside Chat Sets the Tone
The centerpiece of the media day was a conversation between Adrian Tan (Event director of the tournament and COO of Kin Productions), Malaysia's top-ranked player Jimmy Liong, and Adrian Ang (Founder of Pickle & Bones). Between them, the trio painted a picture of a tournament built to welcome everyone, from first-timers picking up a paddle for the first time to the pros chasing ranking points.
That inclusive spirit runs through the tournament's own tagline, inviting players of every level to "Play Where the Pros Play." Attendees at the media day got a direct taste of that idea, with Liong himself running a coaching session before the group broke into games and free play.
What's on the Line
As Singapore's first 500-level PPA Tour Asia stop, the tournament carries real weight. The professional draw comes with US$70,000 in prize money and 500 PPA ranking points, while the amateur categories carry a further US$9,000 in prize money. Registration for player slots has already climbed to roughly 95 percent of capacity. This sends a strong signal of how much appetite there is locally and regionally for a stop of this size.
Electric vehicle brand Leapmotor has come on board as the presenting and official automotive partner. The tournament is also backed by the Singapore Tourism Board and a lineup of partners that includes Huttons Asia, PARKROYAL on Beach Road, 2XU, F&N, Charles & Keith, Panaflex, Skechers, FedEx, and Asahi.
Beyond the matches themselves, fans attending in person can look forward to the Pickle Rumble, a trick shot competition organized by Pickle & Bones that promises to bring some showmanship to the sidelines. Spectator tickets are already on sale through SISTIC.
Part of a Bigger Plan for the Region
Kimberly Koh (Managing Director of UPA Asia) described it as part of a deliberate pathway built to move regional players up through the ranks. Koh explained that PPA Asia 125 events are at the entry level, allowing players to advance to the middle tier through stops such as Singapore's PPA Asia 500. Elite showcases such as the Hanoi Cup, KL Cup, and Hong Kong Slam sit just above that as the marquee events on the calendar.
Liong, who won the World Pickleball Championship in Bali in 2024, believes Singapore's role in that pathway is only going to grow. He said he expects Singapore to eventually host a PPA Asia 1000 event, one with even more ranking points and a bigger prize pool on the line.
"Asia is definitely growing, and Singapore as well, and they are bringing such a big tournament. I met a few partners of PPA in Singapore, and I believe it's going to happen sooner or later. Maybe not in a year, maybe not in two years, but definitely it will happen."
Storylines to Watch
Liong's own path into the sport adds another layer to his presence at the tournament. A tennis player for over a decade before switching to pickleball just three years ago, he found the transition came naturally, and he's now among the growing group of Southeast Asian athletes turning pickleball into a career.
He won't be the only familiar face in the draw. Singaporean Charles Yong, winner of the PPA Asia 125 event held earlier in the country, will compete in the amateur categories, alongside fellow Singaporean Ryan Ng. Both Yong and Liong were part of the inaugural batch of UPA Trailblazers selected to train and play in the United States, giving them a head start most of the field won't have.
With the draw filling up, a title sponsor on board, and a full weekend of programming planned around the courts, the Leapmotor Singapore Open looks set to be a marker for how far the sport has come in the region, and a preview of where it's headed next.
Thinking about picking up a paddle before the pros roll into town? Find a certified coach near you at coach.thepicklebase.com and follow us on Instagram @thepicklebase for more coverage as the tournament approaches.