Developing Future Champions: e23 Starts Fully Sponsored Junior Initiative

Open Trial and Player Selection

The launch of Gee’s e23 Junior Pickleball Program marks an important milestone for Malaysia’s junior development pathway. The program began with an open trial for players aged 16 and below, drawing an unexpected 151 registrations. From these participants, 12 young athletes were selected. Ten of them are 12 years old and under, while the remaining two are 14 and 15. This group forms the first official cohort under the e23 junior training structure.

Fully Sponsored Junior Development

A defining feature of the program is that e23 serves as the sole sponsor, covering all training fees, court fees and the entry fees for any tournaments the juniors will eventually participate in. Training is provided free of charge, and no players are tied to contracts. They remain free to seek their own equipment sponsors or club support as they grow. Gee explains that the structure mirrors a football club, where the team may have a single main sponsor but individual players are able to sign with different brands independently.

Why e23 Took This Direction

Gee made the deliberate choice to keep pickleball companies out of the program entirely. His intention is to push brands and clubs across Malaysia to develop their own junior pipelines rather than relying on external efforts. If an independent initiative like this can fully sponsor training and competition, he believes the larger industry stakeholders should be doing even more for the next generation.

Training Philosophy and Schedule

Training currently runs six hours per week, with more sessions planned during school holidays. The players began structured training in October 2025, but will only start entering tournaments in 2026. The slower timeline is intentional. Gee emphasises that junior development should not focus on instant results. Coaching young athletes requires breaking concepts down simply, nurturing confidence and recognising that their energy and learning pace differ from adults. “Kids will be kids,” Gee notes, highlighting the importance of patience and foundational work.

Looking Ahead

Jour Media will be producing a six-episode documentary following the e23 Junior Pickleball Program, capturing the journey of the 12 selected players from open trials through training and their first competitions. The series will highlight the developmental process, coaching philosophy, and the unique approach of building world-level talent from the ground up, offering an inside look at Malaysia’s next generation of pickleball stars.

The long-term objective extends far beyond producing strong local competitors. Gee is focused on developing players who can eventually reach world-level standards, equipped with solid fundamentals and the right mindset. With a fully supported structure, no financial burden on families and a clear emphasis on long-term growth, the e23 Junior Pickleball Program is positioning itself as a meaningful contributor to Malaysia’s future talent pool.