MEHAU Paddle Brand Debuts in Malaysia, Named Official UPA 2026 Sponsor

MyPickleball has brought paddle brand MEHAU into the Malaysian market, launching the brand's S5 AIRPOOM paddle at its Strand Mall superstore in Kota Damansara. The retail debut arrives with two real hooks attached: MEHAU says it has been named an Official UPA 2026 Sponsor, and its signed player Adam Harvey has just won a Men's Singles title using the paddle.

MEHAU is not a brand-new company. It already sells the S5 AIRPOOM through its own site and through US retailers like PickleballCentral, and its athlete page lists Adam Harvey as a paddle sponsor on his official PPA Tour profile. What is new is the Malaysian shelf, and the S5 AIRPOOM's pitch: an air-chamber frame paired with a carbon surface, a 16mm core, and an elongated shape, built for faster hands and quicker reactions at the net.

A Sponsorship Worth Explaining

MyPickleball's launch post states that MEHAU has become an Official UPA 2026 Sponsor. UPA, short for United Pickleball, is the parent company behind both the Carvana PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball, the sport's two biggest US-based competitive properties. If the sponsorship holds as described, it puts MEHAU's name in front of both audiences at once, a bigger footprint than a single-tour deal would carry. Pickle361 could not independently verify the sponsorship beyond MEHAU's own launch post, and MEHAU's public channels have not detailed its scope.

The Athlete Behind the Launch

Adam Harvey's own results give the paddle a real, checkable storyline. He reached his first PPA Tour Asia singles final by upsetting the No. 1 seed at the Leapmotor Singapore Open, a run that ended in silver. He then made his second Asia final count: at the PPA Asia 500 MB Ho Chi Minh City Open, Harvey beat Luc Pham in straight sets to win the Men's Singles title, a jump from runner-up to champion inside the same tour swing.

MyPickleball's post also credits Hunter Johnson and Travis with using the S5 AIRPOOM in Major League Pickleball competition, alongside a photo from the PPA Challenger Series in Boise. Pickle361 has not independently confirmed those specific appearances beyond MEHAU's own account of them.

Why This Matters for the Local Market

A paddle brand entering Malaysia through a single flagship retailer, backed by a tour-level sponsorship claim and a fresh title win, is a stronger opening play than most new-to-market launches manage. MyPickleball is giving the S5 AIRPOOM physical shelf space and a demo court at its Kota Damansara store, meaning Malaysian players can test the paddle before committing rather than buying on the strength of the marketing alone. The S5 AIRPOOM ships in six colourways: Vanguard Steed, Apex Stag, Sage Rhino, Lucky Magpie, Dolphin Leap, and Cosmos Elephant.

This article is based on social media posts and historical data tracked by Pickle361.