The professional pickleball circuit is returning to its roots in Southeast Asia with PPA Asia 500 PANAS Kuala Lumpur Open 2026. From May 13 to 17, 2026, the biggest names in pickleball are taking over 9Pickle in Setia Alam.
With a $50,000 prize pool and 500 PPA ranking points on the line, this tournament marks a significant milestone in the 2026 season. Over 600 players from across the globe will be in the very city where the PPA Tour Asia first launched.
Tournament Format & Schedule
The event features both Professional and Amateur divisions, allowing local enthusiasts to play on the same "Championship Court" utilized by the world's top-ranked pros.
The PPA Tour Asia utilizes a Single-elimination format for Pro Main Draws, with a dedicated Bronze Medal match. All matches are played as best 2-of-3 games to 11 (win by 2).
- Venue: 9Pickle Setia Alam (Shah Alam, Selangor)
- Total Prize Money: US$50,000
- Ranking Points: PPA Asia 500
- Ball: Joola HC-40
No announcements have been made regarding the schedule, but here's what the tournament might look like:
Amateur Highlights
Amateurs will compete in various age (U18, 19+, 35+, 50+) and skill brackets (3.5+ and 3.499-). Amateur matches follow a Round Robin format to ensure maximum play time, transitioning into elimination brackets for the medal rounds.
Pro Division: The Seeds are Locked
The competition for the gold medal in Kuala Lumpur is expected to be fierce, with several high-stakes storylines developing across the brackets.
Women’s Singles & Doubles
Chao Yi Wang enters as the #1 seed in Women’s Singles, still chasing her first singles gold of the season. Despite a "hat trick" of doubles golds last year, the singles title has remained elusive. She will face stiff competition from Yufei Long (#3 seed), who is a former Malaysia Open champion, and is looking to reclaim the "alchemy" that saw her win three golds in early 2025.
In Women's Doubles, the formidable pair of Chao Yi Wang and Alix Truong holds the top seed. However, fans are closely watching the reunion of Ting Chieh Wei and Yufei Long (#2 seeds), a duo that previously tasted success at the Sansan Fukuoka Open.
Men’s Singles & Doubles
A shifting of the guard is evident in the Men’s Singles draw, where Hien Truong claims the #1 seed for the first time. Truong, who has multiple silvers and bronzes to his name, is hungry for a maiden gold. Standing in his way is the #5 seed Giang Trinh, the only player in the draw who has previously won a title on Malaysian soil.
The Men's Doubles field is equally stacked. Armaan Bhatia takes the #1 seed alongside Tama Shimabukuro. They are followed by the veteran pair Collin Johns and Len Yang (#2), who have been performing strongly on the US circuit. Dark horses Hien Truong and Quan Do (#5) remain a threat, having famously upset top seeds in Hangzhou earlier this season.
Chase the Dragon: The Quest for the Interlocking Fan
The Kuala Lumpur Open is the critical "Open" tier milestone in the 2026 season. Under the "Chase the Dragon" initiative, the PPA Tour Asia has introduced a revolutionary medal system: the podium hardware for 2026 consists of three separate, interlocking pieces that form a single ceremonial fan once completed.
A dragon winds through all three pieces, representing power and perseverance. To assemble the full "Dragon Medal," an athlete must secure a podium finish in each of the tour's three distinct tiers:
- The Open: (Kuala Lumpur Open - PPA Asia 500)
- The Cup: (Kuala Lumpur Cup - PPA Asia 1000)
- The Slam: (Hong Kong Slam - PPA Asia 1500)
Winning in Kuala Lumpur grants players a fragment of the creature. Only those who "Follow the Dragon" across the continent and succeed at every level will see the full picture emerge. This unique format turns every match into a chapter of a larger legendary journey, driving both pros and amateurs to fight for a piece of pickleball history.
As pickleball continues its meteoric rise in Malaysia, the return to 9Pickle Setia Alam promises a high-energy atmosphere for both players and spectators.
Join the action on our Instagram @thepicklebase or drop your email for our newsletter.