Asia Pickleball Games 2025 Set for Tokyo with USD $5K Prize Pool
What's the Score?
The Asia Federation of Pickleball (AFP) has announced that the Asia Pickleball Games 2025 is "all systems go" for December 13, 2025, in Tokyo, Japan. This event is structured as an exclusive, Asia-only team challenge tournament, offering a maximum prize pool of up to USD $5,000 for the top-performing categories. The competition is set to be hosted at 2-2-22 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0063, Japan.
Hit it deeper!
The Asia Pickleball Games 2025 is specifically designed to foster continental competition and is only open to players who possess an Asian National ID, Permanent Resident ID, or a passport from an Asian country. The tournament features a team challenge format divided into three age-based categories: Team Challenge 19+, Team Challenge 35+, and Team Challenge 50+.
Each team participating in the tournament must adhere to specific roster requirements, demanding a minimum of two male and two female players, with the total roster size capped at a maximum of six athletes. The competitive structure will begin with a round-robin phase, where all teams will compete, followed by knockout playoffs featuring the top squads from each category.
The financial incentive structure is directly tied to participation levels. Categories that draw fewer than 12 teams will compete for a prize pool of USD $3,500, while categories that successfully register 12 or more teams will see the prize pool increase to USD $5,000.
The AFP has already received confirmation and welcomed teams from nations such as Chinese Taipei and Singapore via its official Facebook page, with expectations high for wider participation from across the continent. Registration for the event began in July and will remain open until November 30, 2025. For players in key markets, specific contacts have been provided for registration: Nikhil Mathure for India, Rika Riordan for Japan, and Jinmoo Heo for Korea. Players from all other Asian countries are directed to register through the official AFP website. Detailed information, including the tournament handbook, is available for those seeking more details about the event.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The Asia Pickleball Games 2025 in Tokyo signifies a crucial step in formalising and elevating continental pickleball competition. By establishing clear eligibility criteria (Asian ID/Passport required) and offering a substantial prize pool, the AFP is cementing the tournament's status as a premier regional event. The team challenge format encourages national federations to develop deep rosters across multiple age groups, ensuring the event serves not just as a competition, but as a robust measure of national pickleball infrastructure and talent depth across Asia. The financial structure, which rewards greater participation, cleverly incentivises broader regional involvement and underscores the growing professionalism in Asian pickleball.