MLP Asia has named Franklin Sports its Official Ball Partner and JOOLA its Official Net Partner for the league’s inaugural season, which begins 13 November. Franklin’s X-44 will be used throughout the season, while JOOLA nets will be installed at every court across match days in six cities, through the MLP Asia Finals.
The six-team season runs over five weeks, with the top four advancing to the finals. The partnerships bring consistent equipment to the new league as Major League Pickleball arrives in Asia.
Coachino Insight
For players and coaches, a league-wide ball and net standard means match conditions will be consistent across the season’s six host cities.
Days after surviving a car crash, Hong Kong, China’s Jack Wong Hong-kit reached the men’s singles quarterfinals at the Opendoor Pickleball World Championships in Farmers Branch, Texas. He beat Donald Young 12-10, 11-9 in the round of 16 before Hunter Johnson stopped his run with an 11-3, 11-6 win.
Wong also won his opening-round matches in men’s singles and mixed doubles, partnering Kei Sawaki. The quarterfinal finish came after a difficult week that included a winless MLP Nations Cup campaign for Team Asia International.
Coachino Insight
Wong’s run shows how a player can return to competition after a frightening setback. For coaches and clubs, it is a reminder to put athletes’ safety and wellbeing first.
Svenska Pickleballförbundet has called its member associations to an extra federation meeting on 6/12. Three board members and one deputy have left since the regular meeting on May 15 2026, leaving six board members and one deputy in place.
The board says it needs to fill the vacancies through supplementary elections, citing the amount of work and the risk that it may not be able to make decisions.
Coachino Insight
The meeting will address the federation’s board capacity. Clubs may want to follow the supplementary election process and consider how they can support the work ahead.
Trevor Noah played pickleball with local enthusiasts at The Sports Arena at Singapore Expo while in Singapore for the Just For Laughs Singapore festival. Actress Jaime Teo and local players joined him; Teo described him as an encouraging partner, while Joshua Seow praised his quick hands. A local coach said Noah had arranged private matches before the trip, and he later joked about the games during his 5 November comedy set.
Coachino Insight
Noah’s pre-arranged matches show how visiting players can connect with local pickleball communities. For clubs, celebrity drop-ins can also put a spotlight on welcoming, social play.
The inaugural Sabah Open in Kota Kinabalu runs November 6–9 at Replay Karamunsing. Organisers reported 538 participating players across 11 categories and a RM100,000 prize pool. Vietnamese player Quang Duong is among the notable entrants. Local organisers hope the event will strengthen international participation and sports tourism in Sabah; no unverified match results are claimed.
Coachino Insight
Coachino Insight: regional tournaments can combine competitive pathways with local tourism and community development.
The 2026 MiLP China Championship runs December 4–6 at Picklehead Oasis Club in Shenzhen. DUPR announced it will cover round-trip travel between China and the United States for the champion teams to compete at the February 2027 global MiLP Championships and Nations Cup. Accommodation and visa expenses have not been confirmed as covered; this is a travel sponsorship, not an all-expenses-paid award.
Coachino Insight
Coachino Insight: reducing travel costs can help rated amateur teams access international competition.
JOOLA and women’s-sports platform TOGETHXR are working together on the long-term ‘She’s Got a Point’ initiative. At the 2026 Pickleball World Championships, the campaign features appearances by athletes including Kate Fahey and Anna Bright, girls’ clinics, community programming and a limited-edition collection. The Kitchen reported these activities on November 7.
Coachino Insight
Coachino Insight: community programmes and visible athletes can make sport more welcoming without limiting its value to professional results.
