Team KL Beats Cheras 19-3 for a Second NPL Pre-Season Win
Andrew LeeTeam Kuala Lumpur 19, AlphaGenz Bears of Cheras 3. That was the scoreline in the National Pickleball League's second pre-season fixture, played over two days on 24 and 25 Oct.
It follows Kuala Lumpur's 15-7 win over Team Shah Alam at the league's launch on 4 Oct.
Schedule as announced before the fixture:
Dates: 24 and 25 Oct 2026, 1pm to 4pm each day
Leg 1 (away): AlphaGenz Pickleball Club, Taman Connaught, Cheras, 24 Oct
Leg 2 (home): Stadium Pickleball KWC, Level 15, KWC Fashion Wholesale, Kuala Lumpur, 25 Oct
Admission: free on both days
How Kuala Lumpur Controlled It
Cheras fielded professionals Jasper Wong and Tan Jun-Hong, with coach Freemen Chin Lim. Kuala Lumpur still kept control of the fixture throughout.
The capital squad's depth showed with teenager Ethan Chan, who signed with Team KL earlier this month, and professional Desmond Kong. Kong secured a straight-sets win over Cheras' Alex Chong and Klein Lim.
Fifteen-Seven, Then Nineteen-Three
The launch fixture, which ended on 4 Oct, was tighter. Most of its 22 category matches went to three sets, with no cash prize on the line, and Kuala Lumpur won the Intercity Trophy 15-7. Team Shah Alam included Syabil Shaharudin and Melvin Cheong.
The NPL's posts give both scorelines but not how points are tallied, so Pickle361 has not compared the two directly. Our report on the launch fixture has the full background.
A League Built With Venue Owners
The NPL describes itself as the first professional pickleball league officially supported and sanctioned by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS), working with the Malaysia Pickleball Association.
It says it runs on a stakeholder-driven model with pickleball venue owners rather than relying only on corporate sponsorship, and that amateur and professional players compete in the same league. Team KL also scheduled selection tryouts for players rated DUPR 4.00 and above on 19 Oct.
Final district team selections are underway ahead of the league's planned inaugural season in January 2027.
This article is based on social media posts and historical data tracked by Pickle361.
