In a video shared on Tuesday, the FAT President was seen playing on a pickleball court at the five-star Kirimaya Golf Resort & Spa in Khao Yai, Thailand.
“At first, I was there to cheer, then I hit the court,” Madam Pang wrote.
For her first experience with pickleball, Madam Pang maintained her signature sporty and luxury aesthetic, wearing an all-black outfit with a Louis Vuitton T-shirt, Adidas sneakers, a Richard Mille watch and her trademark hair ribbon.
The appearance of such a high-profile sports figure like Madam Pang on the court highlighted pickleball’s rapid rise in Southeast Asia.
Despite its popularity, Thailand did not include pickleball in the official sports for the 2025 SEA Games.
All eyes are now on Malaysia, the host of the 2027 SEA Games, to make it come true.
While a provisional list of 38 sports for the 2027 edition, expected to be held across Sarawak, Penang, Johor, and Kuala Lumpur from Sept. 18–29, currently excludes pickleball, the Asian Pickleball Federation (AFP) will not give up.
Previously, AFP intended to put pickleball into the 33rd SEA Games as an exhibition sport, before making it competitive at the 2027 SEA Games.
The final decision rests with the Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) and the organizing committee. Malaysia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Hannah Yeoh, noted that the selection process depends on venue suitability and SEAGF regulations, Malaymail reported.
The sport’s future in Southeast Asia remains highly promising. Data from UPA Asia and YouGov indicate that pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the region, with Vietnam seeing a 152% increase in awareness and Malaysia following closely with a 132% surge.
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