He said Asia is expected to become the global hub for pickleball with an additional 100 million new players in the next five years.

“One of the interesting facts about pickleball is its inclusiveness. Everyone can take part, regardless of their age or gender,” he said, reported Bernama.

“Selangor intends to become the first state to organise pickleball at Sukma when it hosts the 2026 edition,” he said during the tabling of the state’s 2025 budget at the state assembly in Shah Alam today.

Amirudin said the state government will organise a pickleball festival and a tournament to attract more visitors to the state in conjunction with the Visit Selangor Year 2025 promotional campaign.

He said this will involve school and district-level competitions aimed at boosting interest in the sport among youngsters and producing new talent.

He added that RM1 million has been allocated for local authorities to build more pickleball court facilities in public parks by converting badminton courts that are situated in open spaces, adding that badminton is more suitable to be played in enclosed areas.

Pickleball, invented in 1965, is a sport in which two players (single game) or four players (doubles) use a smooth-faced paddle to hit a perforated plastic ball over a net. The pickleball has less bounce and moves slower than a tennis ball.

Amirudin also announced a RM6 million allocation for the implementation of a sports development programme to ensure the Selangor contingent is prepared for the 2026 Sukma.

Selangor last hosted the biennial tournament in 1998, during which it won a record 80 gold medals.