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The March 2026 issue of World Pickleball Magazine is now live, featuring tournament analysis, global development stories, exclusive interviews, and the biggest talking points from across the sport.
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In this episode of the World Pickleball Podcast, host Chris Beaumont and co-host Gordon Watson break down another fascinating week across the global pickleball landscape, from emerging tours in Asia to major industry developments.
The conversation opens with the D-Joy Tour and the rapid growth of pickleball in Vietnam, including discussion around Ben Cawston‘s comments in the recent podcast, the wider momentum behind the country’s development, and what it means for Vietnam to be part of the expanding international conversation. With a future Pickleball World Cup announcement also in the mix, the episode explores how Southeast Asia is becoming a more serious force within the sport’s wider regional development story.
Chris and Gordon then turn to the UK, where English Open registrations are opening and prompting a wider discussion around the cost of entering tournaments. It is a timely debate, especially for players and organisers trying to balance growth, access, and sustainability across the competitive scene. That makes this episode particularly relevant to readers following the broader tournament landscape and the continued expansion of organised play.
The show also highlights one of the most creative infrastructure stories in the sport right now, with churches in Quebec being turned into pickleball centres. It is another reminder that the demand for court space is pushing clubs, investors, and local communities to think differently about how and where pickleball can grow.
Finally, the episode tackles a major business story with discussion around Gamma filing for bankruptcy. Chris and Gordon examine what that could mean for the equipment sector, for brand competition, and for the wider direction of the industry as pickleball continues to mature commercially. It is the sort of development that fits naturally into the broader pickleball news and business conversation shaping the sport.
Whether your interest is in global expansion, tournament access, infrastructure, or the business side of the game, this episode brings together a wide range of important storylines from across modern pickleball.
Topics covered
- D-Joy Tour and pickleball growth in Vietnam
- Vietnam’s growing role in the international game
- English Open registrations and tournament entry costs
- Churches in Quebec being converted into pickleball centres
- Gamma filing for bankruptcy and what it could mean for the industry
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Further Reading
- Latest pickleball news
- Tournament coverage and results
- Regional pickleball stories
- More World Pickleball Podcast episodes
Chris Beaumont is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of World Pickleball Magazine. Chris follows the global game closely, reporting on the latest news, developments, stories and tournaments from all five continents. He also hosts the World Pickleball Podcast, interviewing people at all levels of pickleball. Chris is also an avid player, currently struggling to make the breakthrough from 4.0 to 4.5.