(HONG KONG, 28 April 2026) – Pickleball has rapidly emerged as one of Hong Kong’s most popular new sports in recent years. With its easy-to-learn rules, competitive yet recreational nature, and inclusivity for all ages, pickleball has successfully attracted a diverse following, becoming an accessible “entry-level sport” for families, students, and professionals, sparking a city-wide craze. While pickleball courts can be flexibly set up in shopping malls, industrial buildings, and schools, the current supply of venues remains scattered, and a comprehensive, recognized development platform has been lacking.
To promote this wholesome and inclusive emerging sport, Sino Group, a long-time supporter of local sports, is proud to be the first developer in Hong Kong to partner with the Pickleball Committee of the Hong Kong, China Tennis Association (HKCTA). Together, they are launching the
“Hong Kong Pickleball Elite Development and Community Promotion” Programme. The initiative aims to bring pickleball into the community, establish the pickleball group under Sino Group as the “Home Court of the Hong Kong Pickleball Team”, nurture elite athletes to represent Hong Kong, China in international competitions, and propel Hong Kong pickleball onto the global stage.
As a driver of urban sustainable development, Sino Group has always been committed to promoting sports culture, community wellness, and youth development. Together with the people of Hong Kong, the Group has witnessed numerous major international sporting events, such as the Olympics, Asian Games, and the World Cup. It has also fully supported the development of Breaking, nurturing and sponsoring Hong Kong team athletes to step onto the international stage.
Sino Group’s vision aligns well with HKCTA’s aims to promote the development and growth of pickleball in Hong Kong. As a fully affiliated member of the Global Pickleball Federation, HKCTA is dedicated to developing a systematic and advanced elite training framework, grooming talents to represent Hong Kong at an international level. Riding on the success in the Pickleball World Cup 2025, where the Hong Kong, China pickleball team made history by capturing the silver medal, the HKCTA and Sino Group have partnered to organise the 2026 Pickleball World Cup selection tournament. Further training opportunities will be provided to selected players to ensure the Hong Kong, China representative team is well prepared to gain an early advantage in the global pickleball arena and strive for strong results for Hong Kong.
Through this collaboration, Sino Group and HKCTA will jointly promote pickleball culture, popularising the sport by extending its reach to schools and communities, while also cultivating Hong Kong’s first generation of internationally competitive pickleball athletes and advancing the sport to an elite level.
In promoting the development of pickleball in Hong Kong, HKCTA’s goal is to build a complete ecosystem for this emerging sport. Apart from launching the inaugural HKCTA Pickleball League in 2025, HKCTA regularly holds coach certification and instructor courses, referee courses and workshops to promote the sport. HKCTA also co-organised the PPA Tour Asia Hong Kong Open 2025 at Kai Tak Arena, which brought more than 100 elite professionals from around the world for local spectators to enjoy the live action, as well as experience the fun of pickleball through amateur matches and experience sessions. These initiatives create further opportunities for community participation and help facilitate relationship-building among both amateur and professional players.
Key Initiatives to Bring Pickleball from the Community to the World Stage
The “Hong Kong Pickleball Elite Development and Community Promotion” Programme will advance the sport’s growth in Hong Kong through several key initiatives:
- Pickleball World Cup: Team Hong Kong, China Qualifiers
A large-scale Team Hong Kong, China selection tournament will be held in June at tmtp commons to systematically discover and nurture potential athletes. A total of 16 representatives from four categories will be selected from the winning teams to undergo two months of professional training. Around 20 elite players will then be sent to represent Hong Kong, China at the 2026 Pickleball World Cup in Da Nang, Vietnam, in late August. Registration for the qualifiers will open in early May. - “5.1 Pickleball Open Day” and Weekly “Pickleball Open Play”
Held at Sino Group’s “tmtp commons” at tmtplaza, “The Pickleball Lab” at One North, and “Yama Pickleball Arena” at Landmark South, these events allow newcomers to experience the joy of pickleball under the guidance of coaches in a relaxed atmosphere. A round-robin format will enable players to compete with different opponents, enhance their skills and connect with fellow enthusiasts. Furthermore, the Open Day will feature free consultations with pickleball advisors and offer trials of various paddles and shoes, helping interested individuals get started and choose the right equipment. - “School Programme with Hong Kong Team Players”
Starting at the school level, this programme will allow local primary school students to interact and play with Hong Kong team members, fostering young talent and promoting pickleball among the youth.
The entire programme is expected to attract over 8,000 participants, comprehensively driving pickleball from the community to the international stage.
Ms. Bella Chhoa, Chief Commercial Officer of Sino Group, stated, “Sino Group’s malls began organizing pickleball activities in 2024 and proceeded to build pickleball courts at our properties in 2025, including six outdoor pickleball courts at tmtp commons at tmtplaza, and indoor pickleball courts at One North. As pickleball has simple rules, is highly engaging, and is suitable for people of all ages and for family participation. We have already held nearly 100 events, and also attracted multiple tenants to move into Sino properties and develop a brand-new pickleball court, allowing even more enthusiasts to take part in this healthy and emerging sport. Beyond popularization, we are now advancing towards elite development. Through this initiative, we are transforming Sino Group’s pickleball courts into the home court for the Hong Kong’s pickleball team. This is a groundbreaking move to provide our Hong Kong team athletes with dedicated training venues and coaching, significantly elevating their skill level and enabling them to compete on the international stage. Simultaneously, Sino Group will host Open Play activities for various skill levels at our different pickleball courts such as Open Play and training, to further drive the sport’s popularization. Furthermore, we will introduce pickleball into local primary schools by arranging for Hong Kong team athletes to interact and share their skills with students. This further solidifies our commitment to fully supporting the development of emerging sports.”
Mr. Michael Cheng, President of the Hong Kong, China Tennis Association, noted, “Through this collaboration with Sino Group, the Hong Kong, China Tennis Association hopes to not only promote pickleball through introductory experiences and leagues, but to also discover and cultivate promising elite athletes through the World Cup qualifiers. Our goal is to form a Hong Kong, China Pickleball Team to compete in the 2026 Pickleball World Cup. Sino Group, with its resources and platform, is an important stakeholder in the development of pickleball in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong, China Tennis Association looks forward to working with Sino Group to jointly promote the sport in the community and elite development of pickleball in Hong Kong, bringing it onto the international stage.