Pickleball's rapid rise across Asia is reaching another major milestone, with Media Prima Bhd confirmed as the official media partner for the inaugural PPA Asia 1000 Leapmotor Kuala Lumpur Cup. The partnership with United Pickleball Association Asia (UPA Asia) is set to give the sport an even bigger platform in Malaysia while bringing the action closer to fans nationwide.
Key Points:
- Media Prima has been confirmed as the official media partner for the inaugural PPA Asia 1000 Leapmotor Kuala Lumpur Cup.
- The five-day tournament runs from 9 to 13 September at The Hood in Kuala Lumpur.
- Results will count towards the World Pickleball Rankings, giving regional players a pathway to the global stage.
- International stars including Gabriel Tardio and Chao Yi Wang will headline a field featuring Malaysian favourites Jimmy Liong Kai Long, Syed Uzair Sufi, and Timothy Foo.
Media Prima Brings Pickleball to a Wider Audience
This year's tournament marks an important turning point for the tour, with results feeding directly into the World Pickleball Rankings. The five-day tournament will take place from 9 to 13 September at The Hood in Kuala Lumpur, with the event already shaping up as one of the standout fixtures on the 2026 Professional Pickleball Association Tour Asia calendar.
The partnership with UPA Asia will see Media Prima activate its full media ecosystem to build momentum around the tournament and further push pickleball into the mainstream. Coverage will span its television networks, REV Media Group, Media Prima Audio, The New Straits Times Press, streaming platform Tonton, and BigTree's digital out-of-home advertising.
Beyond traditional coverage, the partnership will also explore opportunities involving content creation, ticketing, live streaming, and brand collaborations, allowing the tournament to connect with audiences across multiple platforms.
Asian Talent Meets World-Class Rivals
The event boasts an impressive roster of international talent ready to descend upon Malaysia. Bolivia's Gabriel Tardio, currently the world No. 2 in men's singles, is confirmed to headline. He'll be joined by Chinese Taipei's Chao Yi Wang, ranked an impressive No. 11 globally in the women's category.
Malaysia's own national heroes are also geared up for battle. Fan favorites like Jimmy Liong Kai Long and Syed Uzair Sufi, alongside promising young star Timothy Foo, will proudly represent the nation. More thrilling player announcements are anticipated as the tournament draws closer.
Tonton to Stream Live Action Nationwide
Fans who cannot make it to The Hood will still be able to follow the tournament from home, with matches streamed live on Tonton. Tickets for fans looking to experience the action courtside are also already available online, giving Malaysian pickleball supporters the chance to watch the international field compete in person.
Kuala Lumpur Cup Signals Pickleball's Growing Future in Asia
With a strong international field, direct links to the World Pickleball Rankings, and a major media partner supporting the event, the Leapmotor Kuala Lumpur Cup represents more than another stop on the pickleball calendar.
The inaugural PPA Asia 1000 event is shaping up as a major showcase for the sport in Malaysia, while the involvement of Media Prima could help introduce pickleball to an even broader audience across the country.
As the tournament gets underway from 9 to 13 September, all eyes will be on Kuala Lumpur as some of Asia's and the world's leading pickleball players battle for valuable ranking points and tournament glory.
