What to know about Hong Kong Open 2025 pickleball tournament and 6 places to play
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In 2024, Seymour Rifkind, a US-based pickleball ambassador, said that Chinese officials told him they expect there to be 10,000 courts and 100 million players in China over the next five years.
In Hong Kong, the inaugural Hong Kong Open, part of the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour Asia, will take place at the Kai Tak Arena in Kai Tak Sports Park this August.
The tournament will be hosted by the United Pickleball Association (UPA), the parent company of the PPA Tour, who are positioning the activity to be the next leading sport in Asia. The tournament is open to players of all ages and experience levels, and amateur players can play alongside professionals.
The contest will be organised according to skill level and age, with 'Pro League' gold medallists eligible for prize money up to US$50,000, as well as 1,000 points that count towards the PPA Tour Asia Rankings. Amateur players can win up to US$9,000.
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Categories include men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles.
Since registration began in late June, there have already been over 600 applicants, including star Hong Kong player Jack Wong, who is aiming for a triple-crown win at the open, as well as China's gold medallist Long Yufei, who ranks among the top 12 in the UPA Asia Trailblazers programme.
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