HONG KONG, 19 August 2026 — The Hong Kong, China Tennis Association (HKCTA), in partnership with Sino Group, today announced the 26-player squad set to represent Hong Kong, China at the upcoming Pickleball World Cup in Da Nang, Vietnam this September.
Formed through the flagship “Hong Kong Pickleball Elite Development and Community Promotion Programme”, the team brings together the city’s top players. Following intense open selection trials in June, 16 champion-division athletes earned their spots, joined by eight players selected through an open wildcard process. Completing the powerhouse lineup are Asia’s Men’s No. 1 Wong Hong Kit (Jack) and Hong Kong Women’s No. 1 Tang Nok Yiu (Nikita) both called up following an expansion of the tournament’s roster rules.
Wong will take on a dual role as Team Captain and Head Coach. Under his leadership, the squad will complete an intensive August training block at their official home base, “tmtp commons” inside Tuen Mun Town Plaza, as they fine-tune preparations to chase gold medals.
The five-day selection trials drew overwhelming community interest, attracting over 200 athletes aged 12 to 71 across four age categories (Junior, Open, Senior, and Master)—underscoring pickleball’s unique, cross-generational appeal.
Mr. Michael Cheng, President of the Hong Kong, China Tennis Association, said: “This Team Hong Kong is our most representative pickleball team to date. Beyond striving for
excellent results in this year’s World Cup, our most important achievement has been using open city-wide tryouts to make pickleball more popular and accessible. Whether you are in your teens or your sixties and seventies, anyone could try out and make the Hong Kong team! This perfectly demonstrates pickleball’s key qualities: a low barrier to entry, broad popularity, and easy social participation.
Looking ahead, the Hong Kong, China Tennis Association will continue to organise community activities and partner with corporate businesses. We will also fully leverage tennis strengths in coaching resources and global networks to create synergy and drive the growth of pickleball in Hong Kong.”
Ms Bella Chhoa, Chief Commercial Officer of Sino Group, said: “Pickleball is exploding globally, and Hong Kong athletes have proven time and again that they have excellent performance on the international stage, demonstrating local players’ capability and potential. Sino Group is thrilled to stand alongside the Hong Kong squad as they prepare for the World Cup.
We are especially proud to see Sino-supported athlete Wong Hong Kit, currently Asia’s Men’s No. 1, lead the team as Captain and Coach, preparing the team for the international stage with his extensive competition experience globally. By providing professional training grounds, logistical support, and competition resources, we are committed to ensuring our athletes hit the court in peak form. We look forward to seeing the team build on last year’s silver medal and showcase Hong Kong’s grit, talent, and team spirit to the world.”
The following 26 players squad (13 men, 13 women) representing Hong Kong, China will depart for Da Nang, Vietnam in early September for the Pickleball World Cup 2026.
- Junior
- Boys – Lau Matt Yin Fung, Kwong Cheng De Owen, Tang Yee Lai Isaac
- Girls – Cheng Hiu Lam, Leung Nga Lam, Chik Yan Ki
- Open
- Men – Wong Hong Kit, Lam Chun Hei, Lee Chun Wai, Lam Siu Fai
- Women – Tang Nok Yiu, Lam Ying Suet, Ng Cindy Lai Ping, Fan Pui Long
- Senior （Above 50, below 60）
- Men – Law Kam Chuen, Wu Sui Cheong, Asif Abdulla Ismail
- Women – Wong Nga Yu, Lui Pui Shan, Lau Wing Yee Ingrid
- Master（above 60）
- Men – Yung Cheong Wah, Espino Luis Eduardo Jayme, Ho Yiu Sum Michael
- Women – Yuen Ka Yen Barbara, Chan Lim Chee, Elizabeth Harriet Wilcox
Unlike many sports, the Hong Kong pickleball team features a remarkable age span—ranging from the youngest athlete at 14 to the oldest at 69. While each team member brings a unique personal journey, they stand united by a single goal: delivering top performance for Hong Kong on the global stage.
At 56 years old, Men’s Senior Division representative Wu Shui Cheong, a physical education teacher with a lifelong passion for sports, is finally fulfilling a dream decades in the making:
“When I was young, I qualified to represent Hong Kong in tennis at the WorldUniversity Games, but financial constraints kept me from competing. I never imagined that at this stage in my life, I’d get a second chance to realise that dream. Being selected for the Hong Kong, China pickleball squad for the World Cup is both thrilling and anticipating. Beyond competing, I hope to share this journey with my students—to show them that if you never give up and grab hold of every opportunity, your day will come.”
— Wu Shui Cheong, Men’s Senior Division Representative, Hong Kong, China Pickleball Team
Former Tennis Competitor Ng Cindy Lai Ping has overcome threatening injuries in her left wrist to secure a spot in Women’s Open Division to resume her full-time athlete career:
“I used to compete in tennis until a complete tendon rupture in my wrist forced me out of high-level play. At the time, I thought my journey as an athlete was over. Pickleball reignited that spark and brought me back to the court. For years, I traveled to overseas tournaments as a sports therapist supporting major teams. This Pickleball World Cup in Vietnam will be my first time representing Hong Kong, China on the world stage as an athlete rather than medical support staff. It’s a dream come true.”
— Ng Cindy Lai Ping, Women’s Open Division Representative, Hong Kong, China Pickleball Team
Hong Kong badminton legend Chan Lim Chee, who won a bronze medal in mixed doubles at the 1988 Seoul Olympics (when badminton was a demonstration sport), represents Hong Kong 38 years later in Women’s Master Division of the Pickleball World Cup:
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to represent Hong Kong, China at the Pickleball World Cup in Vietnam. Having represented Hong Kong as a badminton athlete many years ago, I never thought I would have the chance to do so again, wearing the Team Hong Kong jersey. I truly treasure this opportunity to represent Hong Kong again. Thank you to everyone who made this unforgettable experience possible.”
— Chan Lim Chee, Women’s Master Division Representative, Hong Kong, China Pickleball Team
Former Davis Cup tennis representative Asif Abdulla Ismail returns to international competitions, competing in the Men’s Senior Division of the Pickleball World Cup:
“To represent Hong Kong once again in a different sport is an incredibly proud moment for both me and my family. I had the honour of competing for Hong Kong, China in tennis at the Davis Cup in 2003 and 2004. Now, in pickleball, this
will be my second consecutive year representing Hong Kong. I can’t wait to bring my absolute best to the court and give it everything I’ve got!” — Asif Abdulla Ismail, Men’s Senior Division Representative, Hong Kong, China Pickleball Team
Youth Division representatives Kwong Cheng De Owen and Leung Nga Lam are eager to use the World Cup as a launching pad for their sporting careers as elite athletes.
“Having recently completed the Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (DSE), I plan to study sports management and build a career in Hong Kong’s sports industry. Representing Hong Kong, China at the World Cup is an invaluable opportunity to experience the reality of high-performance sports firsthand from the inside.”
— Leung Nga Lam, Women’s Junior Division Representative, Hong Kong, China Pickleball Team“Joining the Hong Kong, China squad is an immense honour. It’s an incredible opportunity to battle side-by-side with such a talented and driven group of teammates!”
— Kwong Cheng De Owen, Men’s Junior Division Representative, Hong Kong, China Pickleball Team
HKCTA and Sino Group Join Forces to Propel Hong Kong Pickleball
The Hong Kong, China team selection trials and ongoing training camps are hosted at “tmtp commons” a multi-purpose sports facility inside Sino Group’s Tuen Mun Town Plaza. Envisioned as the official “Home of the Hong Kong Pickleball Team” the facility serves as a high-performance training base, offering professional infrastructure and resources to nurture elite athletes representing Hong Kong on the global stage.
Through this long-term partnership, the HKCTA and Sino Group aim to cultivate high-caliber pickleball talent and elevate Hong Kong’s presence in international sports. Beyond talent identification and elite athlete development, the initiative will launch a series of school outreach programmes and community social nights in the second half of the year—building a sustainable ecosystem to advance both grassroots participation and high-performance excellence.
Hong Kong Pickleball Reaches World-Class Standing Following Historic World Cup Silver
As pickleball’s popularity surges worldwide, the HKCTA has actively spearheaded the professionalization of the sport in Hong Kong, establishing a structured pathway for competition and talent development. Over the past year, the Association launched the local Pickleball League, rolled out certified coaching and referee programmes, and co-hosted the 2025 PPA Asia Hong Kong Open—attracting over 100 top international players and significantly boosting Hong Kong’s profile in the global pickleball community.
In 2025, the HKCTA organised its inaugural selection trials to form the official Hong Kong, China team for the Pickleball World Cup in the United States. Delivering a standout performance, the squad captured a historic silver medal in the Open Division—a milestone for Hong Kong sports that confirmed the territory’s world-class competitiveness on the international stage.