UPA Asia Trailblazers: Pioneering Pickleball’s Growth in Asia

The world of pickleball is expanding rapidly, and nowhere is this more evident than in Asia, where the UPA Asia Trailblazers program is making waves. This innovative initiative is bringing together some of the most promising pickleball talents from across the continent, providing them with world-class training and opportunities to compete at the highest levels. Let’s dive deep into this groundbreaking program and explore its impact on the sport’s growth in Asia.

Understanding UPA Asia: A New Frontier for Pickleball

UPA Asia, announced on November 25, 2024, represents a significant milestone in pickleball’s global expansion. This organization is the Asian counterpart to the established UPA (USA Pickleball Association) and includes both PPA Asia and MLP Asia under its umbrella. It’s worth noting that this isn’t UPA’s first international venture; PPA Australia and MLP Australia have been operating successfully for two years prior to this Asian expansion.

At the helm of UPA Asia is Managing Director Kimberly Koh, whose impressive background includes 13 years of sports marketing experience in the region and a previous role as Partnerships Director at World Table Tennis. Koh’s expertise and regional knowledge are invaluable assets as UPA Asia seeks to establish itself as a major player in the Asian sports landscape.

The inaugural 2025 schedule for UPA Asia, announced on May 7, 2025, showcases the organization’s ambitious plans. The calendar includes five tour stops spread across four countries:

July 3-6: Panas Malaysia Open
August 21-24: Hong Kong Open
August 26-31: Sansan Fukuoka Open
October 1-5: China Slam
October 9-12: Kuala Lumpur Cup

This diverse schedule not only highlights the growing popularity of pickleball across Asia but also provides players with opportunities to compete in various settings and cultures.

The UPA Asia Trailblazers Program: Bridging Continents Through Pickleball

On February 1, 2025, UPA Asia unveiled its cornerstone initiative: the Trailblazers program. This innovative program is designed to elevate pickleball across Asia by providing top players with unparalleled access to world-class coaching in the United States. The all-expenses-paid, three-month program offers Asian athletes the chance to compete in both PPA and MLP events in the USA, significantly enhancing their skills and understanding of the game at its highest level.

Jimmy Liong, one of the UPA Asia Trailblazers, shared his experience: “It’s been amazing. Seeing all the different play styles and understanding the game. The understanding of decision making and when to do this or that, is totally different at this level. The coaches share so much that we have never heard about. We have learned so many different drills to bring with us back to Asia.”

This sentiment underscores the program’s dual purpose: not only to develop individual players but also to create ambassadors who can return to Asia and share their newfound knowledge, thereby accelerating the sport’s growth across the continent.

Meet the Trailblazers: Asia’s Pickleball Pioneers

The inaugural 2025 Trailblazers class comprises 11 exceptional athletes from eight different countries. These players, aged between 17 and 30, were selected from over a hundred applicants. Here’s a closer look at these pioneering athletes:

Ting Chieh “Jamie” Wei – Female – Chinese Taipei – 25 years old – 5.745 DUPR
Eunggwon Kim – Male – Korea – 25 years old – 5.688 DUPR
Yufei Long – Female – China – 26 years old – 5.336 DUPR
Ken Tam – Female – Vietnam – 21 years old – 5.258 DUPR
Marco Leung – Male – Macau – 30 years old – 5.187 DUPR
Sophia Tran – Female – Vietnam – 17 years old – 5.087 DUPR
Jimmy Liong – Male – Malaysia – 23 years old – 5.067 DUPR
Mayu Ito – Female – Japan – 25 years old – 4.788 DUPR
Mia Athilla – Female – Malaysia – 20 years old – 4.788 DUPR
Chen-An Hsieh – Male – Chinese Taipei – 27 years old – 4.746 DUPR
Ryan Ng – Male – Singapore – 21 years old – 4.594 DUPR

This diverse group represents a wide range of playing styles, cultural backgrounds, and experiences, all united by their passion for pickleball and their potential to become leaders in the sport’s development across Asia.

Training Ground: Arizona Athletic Grounds

Since early April 2025, the Trailblazers have been honing their skills at the Arizona Athletic Grounds (AAG) in Mesa, Arizona. This venue is renowned in the pickleball world, having hosted numerous top-tier professional tournaments over the past five years. The choice of AAG as the training base provides the Trailblazers with access to world-class facilities and exposure to the heart of American pickleball culture.

The program’s organizers have ensured that the athletes are well-accommodated, providing nearby apartments and transportation to and from the facility. This comprehensive support allows the players to focus entirely on their training and development.

Interestingly, the Trailblazers are not just improving their pickleball skills but also immersing themselves in American culture. For instance, Jimmy Liong has developed a fondness for Shake Shack, indulging in it at least once every three days. Meanwhile, 17-year-old Sophia Tran attributes her English language skills to her love of movies, with “Sucker Punch” being her favorite.

Coaching Excellence: Jordan Briones at the Helm

The Trailblazers program is led by head coach Jordan Briones, a name synonymous with pickleball education. Briones is renowned for his educational YouTube channel and his experience coaching professional players in the Arizona area. His expertise and innovative training methods make him an ideal mentor for these aspiring Asian champions.

Briones shared his thoughts on the program: “It has been very rewarding seeing the growth of these players in just the two months since we have had them. I coach a lot of different level players, but I have never had a group quite like this consistently for 90 days. I’ve learned a lot already from them. I’ve seen a ton of improvement. These players are the top players from their countries. At this point, the skill is all there, it is just refining tactics and getting their mindset ready to play at the highest level possible.”

Supporting Briones in this endeavor are Caden Nemoff and Greg Dow, both UPA-signed players and top-level professionals in their own right. This coaching team brings a wealth of competitive experience and technical knowledge to the Trailblazers’ training regimen.

The Training Regimen: Intensity and Adaptation

The Trailblazers’ training schedule is intense and comprehensive. Upon arrival in the United States, the athletes embarked on a rigorous routine that includes approximately four hours of pickleball training six days a week. This on-court work is complemented by 3-4 days of strength and conditioning in the AAG gym, ensuring a holistic approach to their athletic development.

Briones has designed a dynamic training curriculum that evolves based on various factors such as weather conditions, tournament schedules, and individual player needs. This flexibility allows for a personalized approach while maintaining a cohesive team atmosphere. The ability to balance individual growth with team cohesion is a testament to Briones’ coaching acumen and the program’s overall design.

Early Competitive Success

The Trailblazers wasted no time in testing their skills against American competition. Just days after arriving in the US, some of the athletes participated in the second PPA Challenger Series event in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, from April 4-6. The results were encouraging, with four medals earned:

Yufei Long: Gold in pro women’s singles
Yufei Long and Ken Tam: Bronze in pro women’s doubles
Yufei Long and Marco Leung: Bronze in mixed doubles

Building on this success, the Trailblazers competed in the PPA Atlanta Slam from May 12-18, this time at the 5.0 level. The results were equally impressive:

Ken Tam: Gold in women’s singles 5.0
Jimmy Liong: Bronze in men’s singles 5.0
Yufei Long and Eunggwon Kim: Gold in mixed doubles 5.0
Sophia Tran and Jimmy Liong: Bronze in mixed doubles 5.0

Perhaps most notably, several Trailblazers made it through pro qualifying into the main draw of a PPA Slam for the first time. Ting Chieh “Jamie” Wei and Yufei Long advanced to the Round of 32 in women’s doubles, marking a significant milestone in their professional development.

Looking Ahead: The Road to Asia

As the Trailblazers program enters its final phase, the athletes are gearing up for more competitive action. The Major League Pickleball (MLP) Phoenix event, taking place at the Arizona Athletic Grounds, provides another opportunity for the Trailblazers to showcase their skills. They will compete in the 4.5+ divisions of the concurrent Phoenix Classic amateur event, as well as the $1,000 Moneyball competition.

Following two more weeks of intensive training, the Trailblazers will head to San Clemente, California, for the PPA Select Medical Orange County Cup. Here, they will once again compete in both the 5.0 and pro qualifier divisions, further testing their mettle against top-tier competition.

The culmination of their American journey will see the Trailblazers return to Asia, just in time for the first UPA Asia event in Kuala Lumpur, starting July 3rd. This homecoming represents not just the end of their training in the United States, but the beginning of a new chapter in Asian pickleball.

The Bigger Picture: Pickleball’s Asian Future

The UPA Asia Trailblazers program is more than just a training opportunity for a select group of athletes. It represents a significant investment in the future of pickleball across Asia. By providing these players with world-class coaching, exposure to high-level competition, and immersion in the sport’s most developed market, UPA Asia is laying the groundwork for explosive growth in the region.

As these Trailblazers return to their home countries, they bring with them not just improved skills, but a deeper understanding of the sport’s nuances, training methodologies, and competitive strategies. This knowledge transfer has the potential to elevate the standard of play across Asia, accelerate the development of coaching programs, and inspire a new generation of players.

Moreover, the success of these athletes on the international stage could have a profound impact on pickleball’s popularity in Asia. As they compete in high-profile events and potentially secure victories against established American and European players, they will likely attract media attention and public interest in their home countries. This increased visibility could lead to greater participation at the grassroots level, more investment in facilities and programs, and eventually, a stronger Asian presence in global pickleball competitions.

Conclusion: A New Era for Asian Pickleball

The UPA Asia Trailblazers program marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the global growth of pickleball. By bridging the gap between Asian talent and American expertise, it creates a pathway for rapid development and sets the stage for Asia to become a major player in the international pickleball scene.

As these 11 pioneers return to their home countries, they carry with them the seeds of a pickleball revolution. Their journey from promising local players to internationally trained athletes embodies the sport’s potential for growth and the power of cross-cultural exchange in athletics.

The coming years will undoubtedly be transformative for pickleball in Asia. As the sport continues to gain traction, programs like the UPA Asia Trailblazers will play a crucial role in shaping its development, fostering talent, and building a robust competitive ecosystem. The future of Asian pickleball is bright, and these Trailblazers are leading the way into this exciting new era.

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