The international pickleball community recently converged on Hainan, China, for the Pickleball Champions League (PCL) Rising Stars Grand Finals, held from April 3–5, 2026. This landmark event took place at the Elite Training Center of the Asia Elite Pickleball Academy (AEPA), located within the Beijing Haidian Foreign Language Experimental School in Hainan.
At stake is a USD $100,000 Training Scholarship at AEPA (valued at USD $10,000 per player). This fully funded program provides high-intensity technical training and professional mentorship. Additionally, every qualifying team received a $1,000 in-kind development grant (including pro-grade paddles and apparel) to support their growth back home. Moreover, top performance can earn "Dream Tickets" to international tournaments like the EPIC World Championship from April 30 to May 6 in Singapore — all expenses paid.
What is the PCL?
The Pickleball Champions League is a groundbreaking continental platform that connects and grows the pickleball scene across Asia and beyond. Its overarching goal is to establish a standardized global ecosystem that moves the sport past fragmented local tournaments into a structured league format.
The DUPR Ranges
To ensure high-level, balanced competition, the PCL strictly utilized the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR). The "Rising Stars" circuit targeted elite developmental brackets, with most competitors falling within the DUPR 4.0 to 5.5+ range.
DUPR is the most accurate global rating system in pickleball from a unified scale of 2.0 (beginner) to 8.0+ (elite professionals) to measure a player's skill level regardless of age, gender, or location.
In a league like the PCL, DUPR is essential because it eliminates the subjectivity of traditional skill brackets. This ensures that every "Rising Star" competes against peers of an identical caliber.
Rising Stars Grand Finals 2026
The highlight of the event is the Rising Stars Grand Finals, serving as the ultimate stage for regional qualifiers. By providing young athletes with a clear roadmap from regional qualifiers to international championships, Rising Stars ensures the sport's long-term sustainability.
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