Malaysia's Tourism Giant Backs Historic $22,000+ Pickleball Grand Slam
What's the Score?
The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) is throwing its weight behind the inaugural MATTA Malaysia Pickleball Grand Slam 2025 (MPG 2025), scheduled to take place in Kuching, Sarawak, from October 7 to 20, 2025. This landmark event, endorsed by the Malaysia Pickleball Association (MPA), boasts a substantial prize pool of $22,680 (MYR100,000) and aims to attract over 1,350 players and 2,600 spectators, contributing an estimated MYR31.6 million in tourism revenue. Player registration opens on May 1, 2025.
Hit it deeper!
MATTA's support for the MPG 2025 underscores the significant potential of pickleball to drive sports tourism in Malaysia. MATTA president Nigel Wong highlighted the tournament's role in promoting sports tourism, connecting communities across borders, and encouraging both inbound and outbound travel. The MPG 2025 will feature team events (Adult Open) from October 7-13 and individual events (Adult & Junior Open) from October 15-20, catering to a wide range of participants. The prize money will be distributed across various categories, including team events, men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles, as well as junior categories, attracting competitive players from around the globe.
The tournament is endorsed by key Malaysian pickleball organisations, including the MPA, Sarawak Pickleball Association, and Kuching Pickleball Association, and supported by government ministries focused on youth, sports, entrepreneurship development, and tourism. The MPG 2025 is envisioned as a catalyst for the further development of pickleball as both a competitive and recreational sport in Malaysia, while simultaneously boosting domestic and inbound tourism. The collaboration between MATTA and MPA, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signifies a long-term commitment to promoting pickleball throughout Malaysia.
The World Pickleball Verdict
MATTA's strong backing of the Malaysia Pickleball Grand Slam 2025 marks a pivotal moment for the sport in the country, recognising its potential not only as a sporting activity but also as a significant driver of tourism and economic growth. The substantial prize pool and the involvement of a major tourism body like MATTA are expected to elevate the profile of pickleball in Southeast Asia and attract a diverse range of international and local participants. This initiative aligns with Malaysia's broader strategy to strengthen its tourism sector through innovative and high-impact events, with pickleball emerging as a key element in this vision.