Asia's First U19 Pickleball Tournament Kicks Off in Davao City
Inauguration of the U19 Pickleball Champions League
The U19 Sectional Tournament of the Pickleball Champions League officially commenced on February 24 at Pickletown in Davao City. This event marks a significant milestone as the first youth tournament of its kind in Asia, aimed at fostering the next generation of pickleball talent. Part of the Kosmas Pickle Fest 2026, this five-day competition is designed to identify and nurture elite players across the continent.
Teams that excel in this sectional will qualify for advanced Rising Stars competitions, where they will face off against the best young athletes in the region. The U19 category features mixed-gender teams, each consisting of two male and two female players, competing in a professional format that prioritizes skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Matches will adhere to the official PCL Asia Rising Stars Rulebook and international officiating standards.
This event is organized by Kosmas Athletic Ventures Corp. (KAVC), under the leadership of Sophia Lapus, in collaboration with Sunrise Events, Inc., and PCL Asia. Mhica Gan, the vice president for Marketing and Events at PCL Asia, emphasized the importance of this partnership, stating, “This collaboration ensures that local players gain from a world-class structure while benefiting from strong community leadership.”
Richard Bachmann, Operations Director at KAVC, shared the broader vision for the tournament, saying, “There’s nothing quite like growing stronger and healthier together. The Kosmas Pickle Fest embodies the spirit of a rapidly expanding pickleball community, channeling it into valuable opportunities for our youth.” He added that the event is not just about competition but also a celebration of a movement aimed at making sports and fitness accessible to everyone.
In addition to the U19 sectional, the festival will host adult competitions across various skill levels, including Newbie to Open categories, featuring men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles events for age groups 20+, 35+, and 50+. This highlights the sport's growing and inclusive nature.
About the Indian Pickleball Association: The Indian Pickleball Association serves as the official governing body for the sport in India, committed to promoting and organizing pickleball nationwide. The association inspires players of all ages and skill levels through events like the IPA Nationals and is affiliated with the Asian Pickleball Association (APA) and the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF).
About Pickleball World Ranking: The PWR is a national ranking system that encompasses all age groups and skill divisions, including singles, doubles, and mixed formats. It acts as the official National Sports Federation Ranking for India, with numerous sanctioned events occurring weekly across the country, helping to identify top players at various levels and forming the basis for team selections at school, district, state, and national levels.
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