Pickleball is winning over Malaysians who never considered themselves sports enthusiasts, and Media Prima Berhad Group managing director Datuk Mohd Rafiq Mat Razali is one example. What began as a casual introduction to the paddle has turned into a regular habit, with Rafiq now playing as often as three times a week.
His experience reflects the appeal of a sport that is relatively easy to learn while offering room for players to improve. As pickleball gains traction in Malaysia, media organisations and sporting bodies are looking beyond recreational play towards broader participation and a pathway for local talent to compete at the highest level.
Key Highlights
- Pickleball's growing appeal: Rafiq went from being a non-sporty person to playing several times a week.
- Media Prima's role: The media group aims to bring pickleball to more Malaysians through its television, radio, print, and digital platforms.
- A stronger development pathway: UPA Asia highlights the need for more high-performance coaches and clearer routes into professional competition.
- Developing future champions: Introducing pickleball in schools and building local role models could help nurture Malaysia's next generation of players.
Media Prima Takes Pickleball Beyond the Court
For Rafiq, pickleball's inclusive nature is a major part of its appeal. Newcomers can get involved quickly, while the sport also offers opportunities to develop their skills and compete. In Malaysia, where food and sport often bring people together, he sees pickleball as another way for people from different backgrounds to connect.
That potential was on display at the PPA Asia 1000 Leapmotor Kuala Lumpur Cup 2026, held at The Hood in Kuala Lumpur from 9 to 13 September, with Media Prima serving as the tournament's official media partner.
However, the group's involvement extends beyond promoting a single competition. With platforms spanning television, radio, print, and digital media, Media Prima sees an opportunity to introduce the sport to people who may not have tried it before.
Rafiq said the group wants to make pickleball more accessible to Malaysians nationwide, using its reach to encourage participation rather than simply attract viewers.
Unlike sports that audiences mainly experience through broadcasts, pickleball offers a straightforward way for interested viewers to get involved themselves. For Media Prima, this creates an opportunity to build connections with communities beyond traditional media consumption.
UPA Asia Sees Room for Growth
Despite the sport's growing visibility, United Pickleball Association Asia (UPA Asia) managing director Kimberly Koh believes Malaysia is still at an early stage of its pickleball journey.
Many people have yet to try the sport, making broader participation an important priority. Koh also noted that those who take it up often continue playing and encourage others to join, suggesting that its appeal can extend well beyond an initial introduction. The next challenge is turning this grassroots enthusiasm into a sustainable sporting ecosystem.
According to Koh, Malaysia needs more high-performance coaches, a clearer pathway to professional competition, and evidence that players can build careers in pickleball. These elements would help bridge the gap between recreational participation and elite performance.
Growing the number of players is an important first step, but developing talent also requires opportunities for committed athletes to progress. Without a clearer route forward, aspiring professionals may struggle to see how they can turn their interest into a long-term sporting career.
Why Schools Could Shape Malaysia's Pickleball Future
Schools could play an important role in expanding the sport's talent pool. Koh believes introducing pickleball to children at an early age could help establish a generation of players who grow up with the game, rather than discovering it later after participating in badminton, tennis, or table tennis.
Early exposure could also make it easier to identify promising players and encourage them to develop their skills over time. Role models are equally important. Seeing Malaysian players succeed could give young athletes a clearer idea of what they might achieve and inspire more of them to pursue competitive pickleball.
Rafiq shares that ambition. Beyond getting more Malaysians to watch the sport, he hopes to see more young people playing and eventually representing the country internationally. “Hopefully we can produce a world champion one day,” he said.
From Recreational Play to a Malaysian World Champion
Producing a world champion will take more than a successful tournament or a surge in recreational interest. Events such as the Kuala Lumpur Cup help raise the sport's profile, but sustained progress will depend on getting more people involved and establishing the coaching and professional development pathways needed to nurture talent.
Media Prima's media reach could help introduce pickleball to a wider audience, while UPA Asia's focus on player development addresses what comes next: giving interested participants the opportunity to progress.
Rafiq's own experience shows how an introduction to pickleball can turn into a regular part of life, even for someone who has never been particularly sporty. The bigger opportunity now is to create that first experience for more Malaysians and give those who discover a passion for the game a chance to take it further.
Malaysia's next pickleball champion may still be years away, but the journey could begin with something simple: picking up a paddle for the first time.
