TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan will host the 2024 Asian Pickleball Games (APG) from Oct. 24-27 in Taichung, featuring 780 athletes from 11 countries with a prize pool of US$20,000.
Pickleball is currently one of the world's fastest-growing sports. A major milestone for this year's APG is that it has been recognized by the USA Pickleball (USAP), per CNA.
The top three finishers of the open division at the APG will qualify for USAP events. These players will be exempt from registration fees and can compete for top prizes in professional tournaments.
Pickleball is a combination of badminton, tennis, and table tennis. A pickleball court is the same size as a badminton court, per the Chinese Taipei Pickleball Association.
Players use paddles like oversized ping pong paddles and a perforated ball similar to tennis, but with a slightly larger size. The gameplay is similar to tennis.
The sport originated in 1965 in Seattle, US. When a group of children got bored at a family gathering, Congressman Joel Pritchard improvised a game using boards and a plastic ball in his backyard badminton court.
After experimenting with different equipment, they settled on wooden paddles and a perforated plastic ball. By combining elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, they created the initial rules for pickleball.
Pickleball's name came from a playful incident involving one of the inventors' dogs. Because the new sport lacked a name, the inventors struggled to answer questions about it.
One day, while brainstorming for the sport's name, the inventor saw his puppy, Pickle, chasing the ball. He decided to name the sport after the dog.
The Taichung City Sports Bureau says the event goes beyond being a sporting competition. It also serves for international sports exchange.
By hosting such events, the city aims to inspire more people to get involved in sports. It also hopes to boost the sport's popularity.
After years of volunteer efforts, 30 community development centers now offer professional pickleball coaching, Taichung Pickleball Association Chairman Wu Chiung-hua (吳瓊華) said. Wu sees pickleball as a perfect fit for seniors.
Pickleball is a low-impact exercise that strengthens the core, making it ideal for seniors, Wu noted. Wu urged the government to invest more in the sport.
