Kidslympic Embraces Pickleball as Sport Continues to Grow

Malaysia's youth pickleball movement has received another boost.

After three years of building one of the country's largest multi-sport platforms for children, Kidslympic has officially welcomed pickleball into its ecosystem through the introduction of the Empire NextGen Series Championship 2026.

The move reflects the rapid rise of pickleball across Malaysia and highlights a growing effort to create structured pathways for young players.

According to Kidslympic co-founder Wong Kang Woon, the decision was driven by the sport's growing popularity and its potential to engage children through a fun and accessible format. The initiative will also give young participants the opportunity to compete alongside players from other countries as part of the wider Kidslympic experience.

Building More Than Just Tournaments

One of the biggest challenges facing pickleball in Malaysia today is creating a sustainable pipeline of young players.

While participation among adults has grown rapidly, youth development remains an area with significant room for expansion.

The inclusion of pickleball within the Kidslympic ecosystem is a positive step because it introduces children to the sport at an early age while providing a pathway from grassroots participation to structured competition.

As part of the rollout, Kidslympic and Sports Empire will first evaluate participation and interest through trial events before the main competition takes place. Winners will have the opportunity to represent Malaysia at the Kidslympic stage.

Growing the Next Generation

Sports Empire co-founder Mah Jin Hou said the organisation plans to expand participation and introduce more categories following encouraging early interest from the community. The long-term goal is to create larger junior events that can accommodate more young players.

Sports Empire advisor Datuk Lawrence Teo also highlighted the importance of introducing pickleball in schools.

The vision is straightforward: expose children to the sport through schools, support their development through academies, and eventually provide opportunities to compete at higher levels.

Why This Matters

For the Malaysian pickleball community, this is about more than adding another event to the calendar.

Strong youth participation is often the foundation of a healthy sports ecosystem. The more opportunities children have to learn, compete and stay engaged, the stronger the future of the sport becomes.

With pickleball now part of the Kidslympic ecosystem, Malaysia takes another step towards building a generation of players who can grow with the sport from a young age.

The courts are getting busier. The tournaments are getting bigger.

Now, the pathway for young players is becoming clearer too.