Vietnam’s Hoang Nam Ly paired up with Roos Van Reek to beat Harsh Mehta and Nicola Schoeman to win the mixed doubles title at the Asia Pickleball Tournament on June 7. Nam Ly and Van Reek beat Mehta and Schoeman 17-21, 21-9, 21-11.
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The victory not only earned Nam Ly to win his first gold medal of the tournament after losing two finals but also propelled Van Reek to complete a triple crown.
The final appeared evenly poised in the opening game before a contentious moment shifted momentum. With the score locked at 10-10 in the first game, Nam Ly called a ball out. Mehta and Schoeman challenged the decision, and after a review, the referee ruled the ball in, handing their opponents an 11–10 lead.
Mehta and Schoeman capitalized on the decision. Playing with confidence and control, they gradually widened the gap and won the first game 21-17, putting themselves within touching distance of the title.
What followed, however, was a complete turnaround.
Nam Ly and Van Reek returned for the second game with renewed aggression and intent. Refusing to dwell on the disappointment of the opener, they dictated rallies from the outset and overwhelmed their opponents 21–9 to level the contest.
The decisive third game quickly turned into a one-sided affair. As the pressure mounted, errors began to creep into Mehta and Schoeman’s game, while Nam Ly and Van Reek grew stronger with each passing exchange. Their relentless attacking play left little room for a comeback.
The pair brought up championship point at 20-11 before the match ended when Mehta found the net, sealing a 21-11 victory and completing a comeback that had looked unlikely after the opening set.
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For Nam Ly, the title carried added significance. Having already collected two silver medals earlier in the tournament, he finally climbed to the top of the podium in the event where the stakes were highest.
Van Reek’s achievement was even more extraordinary. Having already won the women’s singles and women’s doubles crowns, she entered the mixed doubles final with history within reach. By securing victory alongside Ly, the Dutch star completed a clean sweep of all three events she contested.
