Forget the rulebook, because Singapore just rewrote it for the Pickleball World Cup 2026! What began as a simple coffee conversation among two friends has exploded into an inspiring grassroots movement, sending Project Lions – the nation’s first-ever independent pickleball delegation – to Da Nang, Vietnam.
Key Points:
- Project Lions launched without an official governing body to send Singapore's first national pickleball team.
- Founders Adrian Ang and Aron Ong built the entire infrastructure from scratch, from player selection to fundraising.
- The community rallied, raising over SGD $100,000 through crowdfunding and sponsorships, exceeding initial targets.
- This initiative in Da Nang is a foundational step towards a formalized competitive pathway for Singaporean pickleball.
The Unsanctioned Roar: Singapore's Bold World Cup Bid
In a sporting landscape where national teams typically emerge from well-established federations, Project Lions stands as a defiant testament to passion and sheer grit. With no official governing body for pickleball in the nation, founders Adrian Ang of Pickle & Bones and Aron Ong of That Pickleball Academy took matters into their own hands.
They meticulously constructed every facet of a national campaign: player trials, rigorous training regimens, securing sponsorships, spearheading fundraising drives, organizing apparel, court bookings, equipment, and complex international travel. All this, while juggling their own businesses and family commitments.
Community Power: Fueling the Journey to Da Nang
The journey to Da Nang, Vietnam, was never going to be cheap. Project Lions anticipated a hefty SGD $60,000 expenditure. Rather than shoulder this burden privately, Ang and Ong invited the entire pickleball community to participate – and the response was nothing short of phenomenal.
Their initial crowdfunding target of S$70,000 was not just met, but gloriously surpassed, raising an incredible SGD $100,000+ in donations and sponsorships. This surge of support transformed the project from a personal endeavor into a collective dream, proving the community's hunger for Singapore to be represented on the global stage.
Rising Stars: Meet Singapore's Trailblazing Squad
The Project Lions squad itself embodies the rapid growth and burgeoning potential of Singaporean pickleball. Captain of the Open team, Zermaine Lew, a former national youth table tennis athlete, remarkably only embraced pickleball in April 2023. Within four months, she earned a coveted spot in the national training group.
Lew’s first overseas tournament served as a crucial reality check. “Getting whacked in almost every game showed me just how fast, smart and precise players are internationally,” she shared, a challenge she met with renewed determination.
Even more astonishing is 11-year-old Isaac Toh's journey. Picking up the paddle in March to support his father’s recovery, his natural talent, honed by a tennis background, quickly shone through. Now, facing formidable opponents from host nation Vietnam – a recognized Southeast Asian powerhouse – Toh's immediate goal is clear: “to get out of the group stage because our group is very tough.”
Beyond the Courts: Building a Legacy for Singapore Pickleball
For Adrian Ang, the true impact of this week in Da Nang extends far beyond the tournament results. He envisions Project Lions as the crucial first step in formalizing a robust competitive pathway for Singaporean pickleball.
With a growing PPA Tour Asia calendar, including the recent inaugural Leapmotor Singapore Open, and continually improving coaching standards, the pieces are falling into place. Discussions are already underway to explore how an elite player development program can continue post-World Cup, even considering potential public-private partnerships.
Ang emphasizes, “I don’t want Project Lions to be remembered as ‘that team we sent to Da Nang in 2026.’ I hope years from now, we look back at Da Nang and say, ‘That was where it all started.’
The Proud Parent's Dilemma: Hope and Nerves
As the team prepares to step onto the international stage, Ang likens the feeling to a parent sending a child off for a major exam. Months of relentless preparation are complete, and the outcome now rests entirely with the players.
He reflects, “When I finally see them walk onto that court wearing Singapore on their chest, I think there will definitely be a moment where I look around and go, ‘Wow. We actually did it.’ And then, like every proud Singaporean parent, I’ll probably immediately start stressing about whether they’re going to win.”
