The AmBank Malaysia Pickleball Championship 2026 concluded on June 21 after three days of competition, community engagement, and lifestyle activities at PLAYA Racquet Club @ PARC Subang. The second edition of the tournament drew over 600 participants from 10 countries and closed out with a RM66,000 prize pool distributed across nine doubles categories.
Players came from all over the globe, including Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, China, Thailand, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa, and Dominica, giving the event a noticeably international footprint.
High-Profile Names in the Draw
The championship attracted a strong cast of personalities from across Malaysia's sporting landscape. Rio 2016 Olympic badminton mixed doubles silver medallists Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying both competed, as did former national hockey captain Datuk Mirnawan Nawawi, golfing brothers Low Khai Loon and Low Khai Jei. Former national tennis players Assri Merzuki, Khoo Er Yang, and Ashaari Zainal Abidin, as well as former national squash player Ooi Kah Yan, were also at the PLAYA Club.
Liu Ying and Kah Yan paired up in the women's doubles open, and their combination turned heads throughout the draw. The first-time partners made it all the way to the semi-finals before finishing fourth after the third-place playoff. Liu Ying reflected on the run after the event:
"Actually, we found out that our combination was quite good, surprisingly. It was our first time partnering and we didn't expect to reach the semi-finals because many of the other players are very active in competitions."
Men's Doubles Open: Er Yang and Farreez Claim the Title
Khoo Er Yang was the standout performer of the weekend, completing a remarkable open double by taking two titles across the three days.
In the men's doubles open final, Er Yang partnered Farreez Isqandar to defeat Julian Lee Chi Shen and Alexander Tran 11-6, 11-8, securing the championship and a RM4,200 winners' cheque.
To finally win a title this year means a lot," Er Yang said after the match. He also noted the rising standard of local competition:
"I'm definitely happy because I've had a lot of fourth-place finishes and semi-final exits in previous tournaments. If you compare tournaments from last year to now, the standard has improved a lot. Even getting out of the group stage is difficult nowadays, which is a very good sign for the sport."
Women's Doubles Open: Dominant Display from Nesya and Natnicha
The women's doubles open final was a one-sided affair. Nesya Tan and Natnicha Lueangtawikit put together a dominant performance to beat Kong Li-Ann and Joey Cheng 11-1, 11-4 and claim the championship title.
Mixed Doubles Open: Er Yang Completes the Double
Er Yang returned to court for the mixed doubles open final alongside Wong Joe Yan, and the pair continued where they left off. They defeated Benjamin Ngoi Ming De and Choong Kai Le 11-6, 11-4 to wrap up Er Yang's memorable double at the championship.
Organisers Eye the Future
James Tan, strategy director of Score Sports Management, said the response across the weekend gave the team strong confidence to keep building the championship in the years ahead.
"We're delighted with the response and the quality of competition throughout the weekend. This gives us great confidence to continue growing the championship in the years ahead."
AmBank Group's Shazman Shahid echoed that sentiment, framing pickleball's accessibility as central to the bank's involvement:
"We're pleased to see the AmBank Malaysia Pickleball Championship continue to grow and attract participants from all walks of life. As a sport that is accessible, inclusive, and enjoyable for people of all ages, pickleball is an excellent platform for promoting active lifestyles, community engagement, and overall well-being. At AmBank, we are committed to supporting initiatives that bring communities together while encouraging healthier living."
With the field expanding year on year and international participation already reaching 10 countries in just its second edition, the AmBank Malaysia Pickleball Championship is fast becoming one of the more significant dates on the Malaysian pickleball calendar.
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