As pickleball continues its rapid rise across Asia, the Malaysian town of Sibu is positioning itself not merely as a participant in the boom, but as one of the sport’s emerging development centres.
Backed by government support, school-level expansion, and an ambitious infrastructure push, the Sibu Pickleball Association (SPA) is driving a long-term plan aimed at embedding the sport into the region’s sporting culture.
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At the heart of that vision is the proposed Bukit Lima Pickleball Arena, a two-storey facility featuring eight dedicated pickleball courts. The project has already received backing from the Sibu Municipal Council and the Sarawak Sports Corporation, while also clearing the Sibu Divisional Development Committee Sitting Meeting.
The proposal has now been submitted to the Sarawak Land and Survey Department for final siting approval. Once completed, the project will proceed to the Sarawak Government Building Design Committee and the Sarawak Planning Authority before construction work can officially begin.
The project received a significant boost after Bukit Asek assemblyman and SPA president Joseph Chieng allocated RM5.8 million under the Rural Transformation Project fund for Phase 1 construction.
While the arena represents the most visible sign of Sibu’s ambitions, the groundwork being laid in schools may ultimately shape the sport’s future in the region even more deeply.
On April 30, 2025, the SPA launched pickleball clubs across 11 secondary schools in the Sibu district, supplying equipment sponsorships alongside the program. Within weeks, two additional schools joined the initiative, taking the total number of participating institutions to 13.
The association also organized the 2025 Sibu Division Inter-Secondary Schools Pickleball Championship, an event believed to be Malaysia’s first inter-secondary schools competition dedicated to the sport. The tournament featured 16 teams representing 13 schools, highlighting the speed at which interest in pickleball is spreading among younger players.
The momentum is set to continue over the coming months. The second edition of the Sibu Division Inter-Secondary School Pickleball Championship has already been scheduled for July 4-5 at the SMI Pickleball Centre.
In another significant step, the Sarawak Pickleball Association has endorsed SPA to organize the inaugural Sarawak Under-18 Inter-Division Pickleball Championship, tentatively slated for July 25-26.
Last weekend, Chieng was re-elected president of the SPA for the 2026–2027 term during the association’s Annual General Meeting.
Founded only in January 2024, the association has already expanded to include seven affiliated clubs – Lanang, Dudong, Bukit Assek, Pelawan, Iplay Swan Squad, Mighty Titan, and Smashkin Blaze.
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For a town that had virtually no structured pickleball ecosystem a little more than a year ago, Sibu’s progress has been striking. From building school programs and organizing youth tournaments to planning a dedicated arena backed by public funding, the city’s approach reflects careful planning rather than short-term enthusiasm.
Pickleball may be booming globally, but in Sibu, the sport’s growth is being shaped with a clear sense of direction and community purpose.
