“When women come together with collective intention, magic happens.” – Phylicia Rashad aka Claire Huxtable

Get a recap of ATP’s official launch in conjunction with International Women’s Day. Read here

“Girls just wanna have…well, you know.” – Cyndi Lauper

More women are playing Pickleball in SG. We met four girlie groups In da Hood and we want them to be our (paddle) besties. Read here

“I want to be more than an ornament” – Jo March, Little Women

Meet three wonderful women who are doing a fine job captaining their Pickleball teams In da Club. Read here

“So you agree, you think you’re really pretty.” – Regina George, Mean Girls

Cutie or Baddie? We have a bumper line-up of hotties in Whaddaya Dink? Read here

“R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me.” – Aretha Franklin

Janet Lye, affectionately known as ‘Pickle Mama’, is SG’s unofficial Pickleball ambassador. Based in Shenzhen, she has coached and mentored over 1000 Pickleballers while double hatting as a Distinguished Professor at Jiangxi University of Technology where Pickleball has been embedded as a core curriculum within the Sports Degree programme. To us, she’s definitely Kind of a Big Dill. Read here

“Let it go.” – Elsa, Frozen

We have a new segment, may be temporary. We were at the courts and heard some OMG exchanges and thought we’d share them under Re-serve. Read here

“Giving birth is one of the most…OMG, why is that child torturing that Lady??” – Monica, Friends

Our next Super DUPR event will be a Mother’s Day competition. Save the date and topline details. There might be time to adopt a tennis playing kid. Read here

If you like what you’re reading, share this newsletter with a Pickleball friend/loved one/kaypoh. And if you have a Pickleball story or event or special person you’d like us to feature, email us at [email protected] or Whatsapp us at 9633 6586. (No be shy, it’s how the Ang Pow bunch reached out to us!)

“That’s all.” – Miranda Priestly

Registration began at 830am (event was supposed to start at 9am). We had ladies arrive as early as 745am with some asking to play at 815am! The 50 multi-purpose courts that the government has announced can’t come any sooner.

Two courts for Intermediate PLUS. One for Intermediate MINUS. 4 in, 4 out, winners split, paddle queue system (the most common on Re:Club). The ladies took a minute to ‘get’ the system but once they did, there was no stopping them.

Congrats to CL, Jo, Shannon and Winne who won the most games and points on countback, and went home with stylish Tumblers. Cheers!

How did Singaporean women get so into Pickleball and how are they coping with the stresses of their multi-dimensional lives?

Award-winning podcast host Crispina Robert sat down with PickleGo Founders Charlotte Ang and Gina Tan, Pickle Joy boss, Aileen Chow, Life Coach Lee Peilin and SG’s own World Pickleball Champ, Elaine Yong as they shared their thoughts and perspectives.

The panel discussion was followed by a 21-point VIP match of high quality between four of SG’s top women Pickleball players – Zermaine Lew (highest DUPR-rated woman in SG), Amanda Teo (one half of SG’s #1 women’s doubles pair alongside Zermaine), Foo Pin (#1 ranked in SG in women’s & mixed doubles for age group) and Callista Chen (ex-national golfer turned Pickleball winner). 

The mini-yay moment for us, at ATP, was when Zermaine hit an actual ATP during the match! (Where’s a drone camera when you need one?)

One of the most popular activities at our Launch was the Pickleball Coaching sessions by licensed pro Jo Anne Aeria and multiple-medal winner, Tania Lim. Their 2 x 1hr sessions were so popular, there were gatecrashers!

Can you play Pickleball with a tissue box holder, mozzie swatter, frying pan, storage tray or cheeseboard? Quite a few ladies were game and did in our Novelty Game with winners walking away with cute socks.

What’s a woman’s event without a spot of window shopping? Pickle Joy brought their merch and accessories and the ladies had a field day…we expect a dink in their wallets soon. 😉

With so many eligible women around, there was bound to be some pimping. And there was, in the form of Pimp your Paddle, our clean-your-paddle and change-your-grip service which was a big hit. Purple and Pink grips flew off the shelves but black grips, not so much. (Ohh, the sadness of those unused grips.)

Many ladies went goody goody over our Goodie Bag that consisted of a cooling spray, wipes, makeup removal oil, wristband, pocket mirror and a whole bottle of Sensorial Therapy (thank you, Tiger Balm). The Goodie Bag was so well-received we were told some ladies even did ‘unboxing’ videos! 🫶🏼💜

And that was that. Launch done. Friendships formed. Memories made.

Thank you to The Sports Arina especially Sue, Syed, Tina and Kelly Latimer who stole the show the minute she walked in. Thank you to Aileen and Sammi for coming along for the ride. Thank you to our volunteers Mel, Xue Ting and Ying. Special thank you to Tiger Balm Sensorial Therapy, Gatsby, Moist Diane and Bifesta. And of course, thank you to all our friends, supporters and participants who brought their Main CharactHER Energy. (Our apologies if we missed anyone.)

While we are all about the Women in this issue, there was the small matter of CNY and Valentine’s last month. Some folks in the Pickleball community had their own kinda fun celebrating both occasions. We bring you three such celebrations.

We all love Angpows. But clearly, some people obsess over them 😉. Like the Pickleballers who gathered on Thursday, 12^th Feb at Cairnhill CC for a rather unique Ang Pow Challenge.

16 players were split into two teams, one team named ‘Ang’ and the other named ‘Pow’ and played 8min-matches with the objective to score as many points as possible in those 8mins. Highest points total won and on this occasion, it was Team Pow. Wow!

Everyone got a $2 quick pick 4D ticket as their take home angpow, which went nicely with a pot luck of CNY goodies. We found this idea to be so cool that we can see people hijacking it next year. But ohh, we’ll be watching 👀

Us, Pickleballers, don’t need an excuse to hit the courts. But it helps, especially when it involves good food, yummy desserts (emphasis on ‘S’), booze galore and great company.

ATP was invited to one such gathering on Sat, 14^th Feb and while it was pouring, the mood of those gathered could not be tamed (like wild horses – had to, sorry). People were chatting, joking, snacking on frozen pineapple cubes while waiting for the skies to clear. Of course, the hard core ones started warming up. In the rain.

People were paired randomly (Valentine’s Day, after all) and the games kicked off at 7pm till 10pm. And we have to say, the standard of play was pretty high for folks who were slowly getting buzzed. A Lohei followed. Then a Prize Presentation (some nifty stuff). And then a Valentine’s Day cake. Before the night was rounded off in the most Singaporean way – with DURIANS!

We have to say, we were blown away by the group’s warmth, generosity and wholesome vibe. It was really No Horse Run (again, had to, sorry not sorry).

80 players, 40 men, 40 women playing Men’s and Women’s Doubles under Intermediate Plus and Intermediate Minus categories. Fairly straightforward. Except it was kinda fun with folks dressing up in Red (red Boomstiks anyone?).

It was a morning of hot rallies and cool shots with the winners going home with vouchers (not the CDC kind!). Congrats Diana, Chih Chung, Yann Ching (her 3^rd win after two medals at the SPA Novice Challenge) and Rahul. Huat ah!

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The overview of local Pickleball is that it’s a game dominated by Singaporeans over 50 with younger folks (18-45) making their presence felt with each passing day. What’s going unnoticed is that A LOT of women play Pickleball. Among themselves on a regular basis. And having way more fun! We caught up with 4 such girlie groups and are suffering serious FOMO now.

I often tell people that Pickleball doesn’t require a huge time commitment to get started. Just one hour a week is enough to experience the benefits. It’s a wonderful way to exercise and de-stress, and many people are surprised by how quickly they get hooked. Once they do, they’d naturally find time for it. Because it’s easy to learn, especially for those with a racquet sports background, you can enjoy the game almost immediately.

Pickleball is more than a sport. It brings friends and families together, helps you meet new people, and allows you to burn calories while genuinely having fun. In that sense, it gives back far more than the time you put into it. It’s less of a workout and more of a lifestyle.

My main character moment came when I decided to enter my first Pickleball competition and convinced my girlfriend to partner me in the Women’s Doubles. I took the preparation seriously, training with a coach and drilling three times a week. But the moment I stepped onto the court and saw our opponents, reality hit. It wasn’t what I had imagined. I almost forgot everything I had practised and made far more mistakes than I expected. Despite that, my partner, coach, husband, and friends who were there continued to support and encourage me.

In that moment, I realised the competition wasn’t just about me. It was about everyone who believed in me and showed up to cheer me on. We didn’t win, but that experience gave me something far more valuable – motivation. It pushed me to enter the next tournament with greater determination. I continue to train, refine my skills, and improve my tactics. Taking that first step into competitive play made me want to become better, not just as a pickleball player, but as someone willing to challenge herself and grow.”

My son laughed at me when I said I was going to start playing Pickleball. He had thought that Mommy, with no ‘real’ active sports/racquet experience and especially ball sense would ever be able to do it. So I took to the game with extra willpower and enthusiasm.

I played, drilled, got coached, and still made a lot of mistakes. I played often with the other mums to where I am today – approaching the game confidently and more importantly, enjoying myself with a great group of friends. My motivation is to play well in this sport, to show that once you set your mind to a task and put in the effort, there will be good growth regardless, because we have put our best foot forward.”

I am a multi-tasker (husband + 5yr old son + house to take care of) and with Pickleball I’ve become an excellent time manager. Everything goes into my calendar. I will schedule my week and pace myself.

I’d only play Pickleball in the mornings and around lunch so I can be home by 3pm to prepare dinner, pick up my son, send him for tuition etc so the boys are well taken care. Pickleball allows me to meet my friends over something that’s productive rather than just eating food and getting fat. Of course we can still eat after a game lah. I’m a social person. I love to meet new people, love to gather them together and Pickleball is a great avenue for me. I’m very happy that I can turn my hobby into a community."

I’m basically quite a laid back person. I play badminton too but Pickleball is more well-paced as you never seem to get tired! I found Youth (found that i can be an energiser bunny), Motivation (I can better my game) and most important of all, I found like-minded Friends with the same passion, enthusiasm and appetite for fun…which is so important. It’s something you really look forward to on the days you wake up and know you are going to have a game together. Life is more ALIVE now!” 😃

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I wouldn’t say people expect to see male attributes. They expect their captain to be considerate, decisive and make the right decisions. As long as you can demonstrate that, your teammates are quite understanding and supportive.

Especially when they know that this is a voluntary role. You are playing your part to serve. I enjoy interacting with my team and mingling with them. And they appreciate the effort and are mature enough to know we need to put our best effort forward, together.

First of all, you have to make it clear that it’s a team event and that the decisions are made in the best interests of the team. We try and maximise everybody’s availability to play. Everyone wants to win. And because I play a lot of social games with them, I know their strengths and weaknesses.

And that’s where leadership comes in. It is not a social game. It’s a competition. I’m decisive, not easily influenced by others… but I’d try and explain my decisions most of the time. That’s how I’ve been most of my working life. So I would say I haven’t had to make many difficult decisions which get pushed back or result in emotional reactions or discussions. 

Everybody who joins the sport and Section has the heart to play and is dreaming of representing CSC and that’s why they want to play better so we encourage team spirit. We try and have fun first and then we try and win as much as we can. Based on a competition’s draw, we’ll know what are our chances and even when it is a tough draw, we try and make the best of it.

Everyone in the team gets to play and even though we don’t win every match, it’s great that we get to play with the top players in SG cause if not we’d only play social games. 

I think it was our game vs SRC Team 1 in the Lion City League. We knew they were a strong team compared to us (CSC Team 2 was one of the oldest teams in the competition with only 4 players under 50yrs old) and some of our good players couldn’t make the match. So we discussed and I decided to change our line up at the last minute. And we drew the match!

We won some games we were not expecting to win, like the men’s doubles where our men were of relatively older age. And that lifted the overall mood! It was a fun, exciting atmosphere. One of the spectators even commented that we had such a positive attitude about us that they’d consider becoming a member of the club! 

SzeMay: Many male captains tend to be more “what I say goes”. They don’t usually consult. As women, we spend a lot more time consulting our players i.e. what do you think of this line-up etc

Suh Ting: My team looks at me like a mother figure so I had no problems with anyone. They were very good, they were ‘whatever the Captain says’. Of course, we were consultative and quite democratic but the final decision was mine. I don’t think the male/female thing played a part with my team.

SzeMay: Our team had A players like Jih-Shian, Foo Pin and Wei Pin. These players don’t want to be paired with weaker players because the balls won’t go to them at all and they’d just be standing there. But at the same time, Jih-Shian was very helpful, he analysed all our games and talked us through strategy. In that sense, it worked out very well. But on the semi-finals day of Lion City League, up to the last min, 11^th hour, we had to submit our line-up by 12 noon…at 1145, we were still trying to appease certain players cause they were not happy for whatever reason.

In the end, I did a group call with the players and asked everyone “What do you think?” and the consensus dictated that certain players should be out and certain players should be in. It was a democratic process and these are senior players who know the game and that’s how I managed that ‘difficult decision’.

Suh Ting: Unlike SzeMay’s team which was made up of existing players, my team was very diverse, many younger players. I played in the Socials with most of them to get to know them so I know who’s better, who’s not so good. Within the team they may not know everyone so then you have to have your training sessions…we had quite a few and made them all come for Socials as well and tried out so and so pairing with so and so. We tried out all the permutations.

SzeMay was very kind and offered us her condo facilities and from there, the players themselves also realised “okay, this works/this doesn’t work”. So the initial sessions are very useful in building rapport.  

SzeMay: Our first game of the Lion City League with SRC. We suspected that they’d put in Callista but we don’t know the line-up till the day itself. So we all discussed it and we took the view that they’d put Callista in the Women’s Doubles so we worked it such so we’d take the other 3 games and lose the Women’s Doubles. So I said I’d be the sacrificial lamb and our bet paid off. We were all so happy. I played Callista and I lost of course but the other three were convincing wins and that tipped the overall result. 

Suh Ting: Less dramatic than SzeMay’s…we were the underdogs for most of the matches so we tried to secure draws. My players were seasoned social players but not seasoned competitive players. The first and second games…I could barely recognise how they were playing. In socials they are so confident cause they know who they are playing with and can try all sorts of funny things and beat the opponent. But when it came to the competition, I was quite amazed (SzeMay: Appalled!) that the nerves really got to them.

Even serves, this person who normally serves hard and BOOM suddenly went, “I’m scared it’ll be out” and went with a softer serve and “I don’t know how to adjust”. So I spoke to them, pushed them and we all consoled each other after our losses. I then encouraged them to join more competitions (even play DUPR games) cause in a competition you’d still have your nerves but at least you’d be more certain of your game. 

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Janet Lye is on a mission to grow the game of Pickleball. As a coach, instructor and mentor, she is ‘Pickle Mama’ to over 1000 students (almost all of them are in her chat groups, fyi), with the number growing every week.

In the last 14 months, Janet has conducted classes in Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and will soon cover Thailand, Indonesia and Mongolia as well. Her motto? ‘One country at a time’ by adjusting and overcoming language and cultural barriers, and lifestyle differences.

Her mission-first mindset received a boost when she was made a Distinguished Professor at Jiangxi University of Technology where Pickleball has been formally embedded as a core curriculum within the Sports Degree programme. A rare honour indeed. We had an opportunity to catch up with Janet over Chinese New Year.

I was introduced to Pickleball by an old friend back in 2010. My first impression of the game was not particularly positive. Apart from knowing that Pickleball was played on a badminton court, I had little understanding of how the game was actually played.

As it was my first time, the instructor in charge did not allow me onto the court that evening. Instead, I spent the entire session hitting the ball against the wall, without really knowing what pickleball was all about at the time.

My move to China was driven purely by passion and an intense desire to help promote Pickleball across Asia, particularly in major cities like Shenzhen and across China as a whole.

I had already been actively supporting the Shenzhen Pickleball Association since 2018, assisting in the promotion and development of the sport. In 2023, I worked closely with the association to bring in international instructor Mark Renneson from Pickleball Coaching International, to conduct the first International Coach Certification Program in China.

Following that program, my PCI coursemate Liao Wang invited me to come onboard to help kick-start their pickleball launch in Shenzhen.

At that time, my spoken Mandarin was only moderate, and my written Chinese was very basic. Accepting the offer was therefore a significant personal and professional challenge, and naturally, I had doubts and fears about such a major change.

However, my passion for Pickleball outweighed those fears. With strong support from colleagues on the ground and after making a promise to my family back home that I would commit to just three months…I decided to take the leap. What started as a short trial has now turned into my third year living and working in China, contributing to the growth of Pickleball in the region.  

Everything, from sign boards and menus to official documents, is in Chinese, and this has been one of the greatest challenges I have faced. Yet, it is also the challenge that has shaped my resilience and determination to stay on

Being based in Shenzhen, a fast-paced city, I have learned that each day pushes me to adapt, to learn, and to grow. Rather than being left behind, I choose to move forward – keeping pace with the city and turning every obstacle into an opportunity for progress.

To be honest, I do not view Pickleball as a male-dominated sport. In fact, my mission has always been to empower, engage, and enlighten women through Pickleball, both on and off the court.

Being a highly respected international figure and an elder in the community, I am treated with a level of respect when it comes to business drinking. I am never pressured to drink. My superior is extremely understanding. He brings me to business discussions and negotiation tables, while also ensuring I am protected whenever drinking situations arise as he is aware I get drunk on Shandy (half lemonade + half cider/beer).

Embarking on a Pickleball journey was never in my wildest dreams. Many assume it is a glamorous retirement pursuit, but the reality is very different. Without genuine passion, it would be impossible not only to succeed, but to endure this long, and even now, I sometimes find it unbelievable myself.

What truly sustains me is not recognition, but fulfillment and knowledge that I have impacted lives. Watching aspiring coaches grow into practical, confident professionals, and hearing the success stories my students share, is what keeps me moving forward, even on the toughest days when I battle long queues and squeeze shoulder to shoulder with locals just to board an economy-seat high-speed train and arrive at my class on time.

Through this journey, I want to encourage women to step out of their comfort zones. Give back to the community. Start by promoting the sport, teaching pro bono, engaging fellow women, and inspiring healthier lifestyles. Once you begin, there is no turning back – only growth, purpose, and impact.

Pickleball has been present in Singapore for more than 35 years, and across much of Asia for nearly 25 years. Yet despite its sustainability and publicity, promotion has remained limited, with awareness reaching only a small fraction of each city’s population.

In China, Pickleball is still considered very new (approximately 14 years) and remains virtually unheard of in many provinces and cities.

Whenever I conduct Coach Training Programs in China, my focus is not merely on certification, but on laying a strong foundation in every participant. I guide them to truly understand the fundamentals of the sport, so that they, in turn, can confidently promote Pickleball and initiate its growth within their communities. This is how awareness spreads, one community and one city at a time.

I am far busier now than I was in Singapore. In my first year, there were practically no side trips after classes in the cities where I conducted programs. Most of my travel was “touch-and-go.”

Based in Shenzhen, I typically travel out on Fridays to different cities to conduct weekend certification classes and return to base camp by Tuesday. The cycle repeats almost every week, except when I have to be present in our organized tournaments as a backup Referee.

On days back at base camp, I spend time practicing with colleagues and local players near my office. I need my daily dose of pickleball and in many ways, that is my strategy for balance.

Despite never passing Chinese beyond secondary school, and hardly speaking it even in Singapore, I found myself taking on a mission in China to promote Pickleball quite unbelievable.

When I shared that I would be based in China, many people were skeptical. After all, I was not someone known to converse in Chinese back home.

Yet passion overrides Fear.  Moving to China meant more than adjusting to a new environment. I had to learn Pickleball terminology in Chinese from scratch. At that time, not many players in Singapore could articulate Pickleball terms in Chinese. I was not just learning the language. I was adjusting and shaping the vocabulary of the sport. Every class became both a coaching session and a language lesson. Every training conducted was a step out of my comfort zone.

It was never about being fluent. It was about being committed. 

In Singapore, squat toilets are a rare sight. Smoking is not allowed inside sports complexes or buildings or most places. Queuing is a way of life; orderly, disciplined, expected.

I’ll be back in Singapore in early April, and as always, I’m looking forward to reconnecting with my Pickleball family.

Planning to drop by and see my Pickle folks at:

No matter how far the journey takes me, coming home to familiar courts, familiar laughter, and familiar faces is always special.

Lifelong Achievement Award by APBA 

USAP Certified Referee
APBA Coach Instructor
APBA Referee Instructor 
PCI Coach Educator
IPTPA L1 Coach
IFP L1 Coach

Pickleball Mama,
Prof Janet Lye 

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Deep down, are you a Giselle from Enchanted (cutie) or a Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones (baddie)? We asked some ladies at our Launch.

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We are going to host a Mother-Child Pickleball competition on Saturday, 9^th May (so your halflings cannot get away from pampering you on the actual day).

It’s likely to be held at the new Sports Arina at Kovan/Jalan Kayu. Indoors, air-conditioned, usual ATP touch etc

For now, we are looking at the following categories:

Mother-Child (male child) or Mother-Child (female child)
Child up to 9
Child 10 - 17
Child 18 and above

Details might change but for now, Save the Date and register your interest.

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We are still new to the game of Pickleball. We don’t really know about levelling up but we like the trash talking. It’s on point!

#1

Player:
“I’m sorry.” (after hitting the ball into the net for the umpteenth time)

Partner:
“Don’t be sorry. Be better.” (pin drop silence in entire 3rdSpace)

#2

Player to Partner:
“There’s a difference between shouting ‘Yours’ and screaming ‘Your head’. Just saying.” 

#3

Retiree wisdom:
“When you play Pickleball with your competitive wife, you must make a quick decision. Do you agree with her line calls? Or do you want to get lucky that night?”

#4

Player to Partner:
“You keep track of the score, I’ll keep track of your mistakes.” 

#5

Player to Partner:
“Look, everybody has an off day. Yours is just every day.” 

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You’ve reached the end of our newsletter. Share it with a Pickleball friend/loved one/kaypoh. And if you have a Pickleball story or event you’d like us to feature, email us at [email protected] or Whatsapp us at 9633 6586.

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