Hong Kong isn't just playing pickleball; it's building a stronger community, one team at a time. The Hong Kong Pickleball League (HKPL) was established to bring the city's growing pickleball scene together through structured, team-based competition. Now in its fourth season, the league continues to provide local clubs and players with a regular platform to compete, connect and develop the sport.
Key Highlights
- Founded by Joon Siu and Eric Poon, the Hong Kong Pickleball League launched its first season in February 2025, with Bay Pickle and STACKD winning Division A and Division B respectively.
- The league features four divisions catering to different playing abilities, including Premier, Intermediate, Developing and Masters categories.
- Season 4 began its group stage on October 5, 2026, with playoffs scheduled to start on January 4, 2027.
- HKPL aims to strengthen Hong Kong's pickleball community, improve playing standards and position the city as a leading pickleball hub in Asia.
From Vision to Reality: The Hong Kong Pickleball League's Journey
Despite having an active pickleball community, Hong Kong previously lacked a unified platform that brought local clubs and players together through regular team competition. The Hong Kong Pickleball League Limited was incorporated on January 3, 2025, with the aim of providing a more organised structure for the sport.
Its inaugural season followed shortly after, running from mid-February to mid-April 2025. Bay Pickle claimed the Division A title, while STACKD emerged as the Division B champion. Since then, the league has continued to develop its competition format, reaching Season 4 in 2026. The current season's group stage began on October 5, 2026, with the playoffs set to begin on January 4, 2027.
The People Behind HKPL
At the heart of the project are co-founders Joon Siu, the league's chairman, and Eric Poon, its treasurer. Both have spoken publicly about the reasons behind establishing the league and their ambitions for the future of pickleball in Hong Kong.
The league also has two honorary chairmen with extensive experience in the sport. Steve Kuhn, founder of Major League Pickleball and DUPR, also serves as a board member of the World Pickleball Federation. Meanwhile, Mike Johnson is co-founder of the Global Pickleball Federation and chairman of the Philippine Pickleball Federation. Their involvement reflects HKPL's ambition to strengthen local competition while contributing to the wider development of pickleball.
Beyond Individual Tournaments: The Power of Team Pickleball
What distinguishes the Hong Kong Pickleball League from the usual tournament circuit is its focus on team competition. Rather than entering events as individuals, players represent their respective clubs or teams throughout an entire season.
This format encourages greater teamwork, camaraderie and regular interaction among players, while giving clubs a consistent platform to compete. The league's structure also accommodates different playing abilities, allowing both experienced competitors and developing players to take part.
Four Divisions, One Competitive Community
The Hong Kong Pickleball League operates across four divisions, with player eligibility determined by playing level and DUPR ratings.
- Division A (Premier): Open to all players without a DUPR rating restriction. It is the league's top tier, featuring some of Hong Kong's strongest amateur players.
- Division B (Intermediate): For players with DUPR ratings between 3.0 and 3.699, offering a competitive environment for those progressing beyond casual play.
- Division C (Developing): For players rated 2.999 or below, including unrated (NR) players. This division provides newer participants with an opportunity to gain experience and develop their skills.
- Masters: Dedicated to players aged 50 and above, allowing them to compete against others in the same age category.
This division-based structure helps create a more balanced competition while giving players opportunities to improve and progress within the league.
Season 4 Registration and Eligibility Rules
HKPL follows a structured registration process to organise teams and manage player eligibility for each season.
For Season 4, team registration closed on September 18, 2026, followed by the release of the match schedule on September 21. The schedule was locked on September 25, which was also the deadline for player registration. DUPR ratings were frozen using a cut-off date of July 31, 2026, to determine the divisions players could enter.
The league's eligibility requirements include:
- Registered clubs, associations or teams with court access in Hong Kong can apply.
- Clubs may enter multiple teams, provided each team has a unique name.
- All league communication is handled through team captains and club or team managers.
- Player registrations must be submitted through the official roster form via the league's digital portal. Additional players cannot be registered through WhatsApp or email.
These requirements help maintain an organised registration process and ensure teams follow the same competition guidelines.
Hong Kong's Ambition to Become a Pickleball Hub in Asia
Beyond organising regular competitions, the Hong Kong Pickleball League has a wider vision for the sport's development. Its mission is centred on bringing Hong Kong's pickleball community together by encouraging collaboration among local clubs, creating an inclusive environment and building lasting connections between players.
Five Pillars Driving HKPL's Vision
The league's mission is built around five key pillars:
- Inclusivity: Making pickleball accessible to players of different backgrounds and abilities.
- Unity: Bringing local clubs and players together under a shared competitive platform.
- Community Building: Encouraging stronger relationships and camaraderie within the sport.
- Elevating Playing Standards: Providing structured competition to help players improve.
- Positioning Hong Kong as an Asian Pickleball Hub: Increasing the city's visibility and standing within the regional pickleball community.
Through regular team competition and greater cooperation among clubs, HKPL hopes to contribute to Hong Kong's growing presence in the Asian pickleball scene.
Riding the Wave of Hong Kong's Pickleball Growth
The league's development comes at a time when pickleball is gaining further recognition across Hong Kong. The city recently hosted the Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam, the first PPA Asia 1500 event, bringing international attention to its growing pickleball scene.
Meanwhile, Bay Pickle, the winner of HKPL's inaugural Season 1 Division A, has partnered with Sino Group to launch a youth elite programme and Hong Kong's first indoor Bay Pickle Academy. These developments complement HKPL's efforts to provide local clubs with a structured competition platform, while other initiatives continue to expand opportunities for youth development and international events.
A Stronger Future for Pickleball in Hong Kong
From its inaugural season in 2025 to its ongoing fourth season, the Hong Kong Pickleball League has helped bring greater organisation to the city's growing pickleball community. Its team-based format, four competitive divisions and collaboration among local clubs provide players with more opportunities to compete and develop their skills.
While establishing Hong Kong as a leading pickleball hub in Asia remains a longer-term ambition, HKPL is already playing a role in strengthening the local scene. As the league continues to grow, its focus on competition, inclusivity and community could help shape the next chapter of pickleball in Hong Kong.
