THE statewide Pickleball Coaching Clinic successfully gathered 800 students and 200 teachers across secondary schools in Penang to promote the growth of pickleball in the state.
Organised by Sport We Play, in collaboration with the Student Talent Development Unit of Penang Education Department (UPBM), Penang Schools Sports Council (MSSPP) and Penang State Sports Council (MSNPP), the clinic was officiated by Penang Education Department deputy director of Student Development, Mohamad Said Ibrahim, and assistant director of Student Development, Mohd Fadzil Mohd Noor.
“We are moving forward as a state in embracing pickleball and it’s exciting to see how well the sport is growing here.
“There is a real chance for us to transform underutilised school courts into dedicated pickleball courts, ensuring students have the proper facilities to train and compete.
“We must push pickleball forward in Penang and create more possibilities for the sport to grow. With the right support, we can develop talented players and build a strong pickleball community,” Said said in his speech.
In line with this vision, Said also shared that his department is planning to develop new pickleball courts for public use as part of their efforts to promote the sport across Penang.
Sim Fong Hau, founder of Sport We Play and the main sponsor of the clinic, expressed their commitment to promoting pickleball as a sport for all ages.
“Pickleball is rapidly growing worldwide, and this clinic is a fantastic opportunity to introduce it to our young generation. Our goal is to create a strong foundation for pickleball in Penang schools, ensuring that more students have access to structured training and competitive pathways,” Sim said.
Sim also emphasised that beyond just fun and fitness, pickleball fosters discipline, teamwork and strategic thinking, making it an ideal sport for students.
Students received in-depth coaching from experienced trainers, learning the fundamentals of gameplay, movement techniques and strategy development during the clinic. As part of the programme, a mini tournament was also held to provide participants with hands-on competitive experience.
In the island category, SMK Jelutong secured the overall champion title while SMK Batu Maung finished runner-up. In the mainland category, SMJK Jit Sin II emerged as the champion while the SMK Saujana Indah took second place.
Jit Sin player Khor Yearn, 16, said she and her team were very happy with their hard-earned victory.
“Teamwork was crucial to our success, and participating in this tournament was an incredible experience. I have learned a lot in this tournament.
“I am truly grateful for all the support I received today. I will continue to train harder and strive for more opportunities to compete at a higher level in the future,” Khor Yearn said.
For Noor Syahida, a teacher from SMK Taman Pewira, the tournament was an eye-opening experience as she was pleasantly surprised by her students’ performance.
“I didn’t expect them to play so well and it’s clear that they have great potential. This tournament has shown me that pickleball is a sport worth developing. I hope to create more opportunities for my students in school to train and compete,” Syahida said.
As part of efforts to encourage wider participation in pickleball at the school level, an official equipment handover ceremony was held, where selected schools across Penang received pickleball equipment sets consisting of pickleball paddles, balls and nets.
Story and pix by Lim Min Jun