Would you believe it? Half a year has flown by (argh!). Good news is ATP is onto Issue #06! And a lot has changed since our first issue in January.

For our launch issue, we leaned very heavily on friends who played Pickleball. 6 months on, we are mingling with people at the Asia Pickleball Summit and chatting with the good folks at Allkin who are raising money via Pickleball with DPM Gan as their GOH (see In da Hood).

We also got to hang out with one of SG’s top eye surgeons, Dr Lee Hung Ming. A car-wine-art aficionado and avid Pickleball player (Kind of a Big Dill).

We rounded up some of SG’s top Pickleball coaches in a first of 3-part series (In da Club) coz coaching is an integral part of our Pickleball scene and ecosystem.

We also found time to catch some Pickleball-playing fathers for Father’s Day. And decided to give airtime to one of our readers who sees a growing lack of sportsmanship/graciousness in the local Pickleball scene (Re-serve).

Go on. Read and learn something new, skim and smirk if that’s your jam or check out the pictures if you have social-media ADHD.

Subscribe (it’s free) and share with your Pickleball playing friends/family/church mates/neighbours etc. According to Reclub, SG has close to 20,000 Pickleball players. We reckon you can help us connect with the remaining 19,500. Help lah.

As always, if you have a Pickleball story or event you’d like us to feature (you know, get your profile up, build your personal brand etc), email us at [email protected] or Whatsapp us at 9633 6586.

Happy Pickling now! 😋

Asia Pickleball Summit 2.0 was held at KL over the June 6-7 weekend (STOP IT with the 6-7!). We got to hear from the who’s who of Pickleball in the region, met many nice folks, shared some laughs and took away plenty of learnings. All while happily snapping away.

The Organising Chairperson
Ken Lim / @kensurecan

Ken Lim, organising Chairperson of Asia Pickleball Summit 2.0, welcomed over 40 speakers and attendees from 13 countries. Even shared his early wishlist for Summit 3.0 with us .

Stamp of Approval from Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Youth & Sports
YB Tuan Mordi anak Bimol

Seeing the positives of Pickleball and the huge economic potential was Minister YB Tuan Mordi anak Bimol. He was telling everyone he has only played the game a few times… only for a guest in his entourage to say he is a good player 😉

Key takeaways from
The Speakers

Speakers from the different markets shared how Pickleball was growing in their nations. It was interesting to hear how Pickleball in Hong Kong is thriving without government help while in Thailand and Cambodia, government help is quite necessary. We heard how Chinese children and parents are keen to see Pickleball make the Asian & Olympic Games (“if not play for what?” is their question, it seems). And we found out Malaysia hosts 800+ Reclub games A DAY, the highest in the region. It was a weekend of ‘OMG, this game is growing and growing !’.

Reclub bosses in the House
Tony Ho & Hai Nguyen

When asked about a recent CNBC report on Family Offices investing in sports like Pickleball, Tony Ho, Founder of Reclub said, “Pickleball is a cultural movement and will fundamentally change the way people see sports and how it fits into everyday life. It’s a healthier third home.”

His Head of Pickleball Marketing, a very youthful Hai Nguyen, was equally bullish about Pickleball. When asked if he sees any emerging threats to Reclub, he replied, “We see learnings instead of threats. Entrepreneurs coming up with new solutions for the sports economy is a healthy practice. Let’s do it together!”

What else went down
Fringe Activities + Pickleball Action

The speakers were good. The panel discussions were lively. The exhibition hall with properties/EV cars for sale, good nutrition choices, made-in-Malaysia Pickleball gear to chiropractors was buzzing (we contributed to the Pickleball economy ourselves!). The networking-while-Pickleballing was brilliant. We can only see this Summit getting bigger and better next year.

“Can we take a picture?”
See & be Seen

The people we met/bumped into were just the nicest, warmest people you can ask for at any conference. Such sporting Summit people! 🥰

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Every year, Allkin journeys with more than 20,000 individuals and families as they navigate complex life challenges. This year as SG plays host to the first-ever Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) 500-tier tournament, Allkin has been adopted as the official charity of the competition as it runs a parallel Pickleball tournament, Rally for Good. Funds raised through Rally for Good will help ensure Allkin continues its good and important work.

Allkin is proud to be the Official Charity Partner of PPA Asia 500 Singapore Open 2026.

The partnership came about through a shared belief in the power of community. While UPA Asia is committed to growing Pickleball across the region, Allkin’s mission is on strengthening communities and ensuring that no one walks alone. We saw a natural alignment in using the sport as a platform to bring people together for a meaningful cause.

At Allkin, we’ve always believed in the power of community and the positive change that happens when people come together around a shared cause. Pickleball is uniquely positioned to do just that. It is accessible, highly social, and brings together people of different ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Those same qualities are reflected in the work we do every day across our programmes and services.

Through this partnership with UPA Asia, we hope to inspire greater awareness and support for vulnerable individuals and families in our community, while demonstrating how sport can be a powerful force for connection, collaboration and cheering one another on. In a similar vein, UPA Asia has consistently championed the role Pickleball can play in bringing communities together – recognising that sport is about connection, not just the game itself. This shared commitment is what makes the partnership especially meaningful.

At its heart, Allkin’s mission is about journeying alongside those in need to build a brighter future. In fact, our name reflects the values that guide our work – inclusivity, human connection, and togetherness. These are similar values behind the spirit of pickleball, a sport that is easy to learn, highly inclusive, and creates opportunities to connect, encourage one another, and build relationships. In many ways, that mirrors how strong communities are built, through everyday interactions, mutual support, and shared experiences.

Rally For Good extends that belief onto the court. More than a fundraiser, it invites people to compete, connect, and contribute to a cause larger than themselves, where every rally is more than just a play for points but a show of support for vulnerable individuals, families, and communities that Allkin serves. 

In this context, our partnership with UPA Asia is meaningful because it reflects the same belief in collective strength. UPA brings deep expertise and legacy in developing pickleball and growing its community across Asia, while Allkin brings its mission of community care and social impact. Together, it demonstrates how meaningful impact is amplified when different strengths come together in service of a shared purpose.

Importantly, this is not just about growing a sport or hosting an event but using Pickleball as a platform to bring people together, foster connection, and inspire action beyond the game itself.

There is a natural alignment between Pickleball and many of the values we promote across our services and programmes. The sport is social, inclusive and community-led, qualities that are central to how we support individuals & families.

One area where we have seen a particularly meaningful connection is among seniors. Pickleball has been introduced to some of our senior beneficiaries, many of whom enjoy the sport not only as a form of physical activity but also as an opportunity to build friendships and stay socially connected.

For some seniors, retirement, health challenges or changing life circumstances can lead to shrinking social circles and increased isolation. Activities such as Pickleball provide a reason to stay active, connect regularly with peers and look forward to shared experiences. Beyond the physical benefits, these interactions contribute to a greater sense of belonging, confidence and purpose.

More broadly, the spirit of Pickleball mirrors how we support vulnerable individuals in the community. Just as a rally depends on players supporting and responding to one another, we believe strong communities are built not only through the provision of services but when people contribute their strengths, support one another and grow together.

(See interview with two Allkin seniors who play Pickleball here)

Rally For Good is designed to be much more than a competition. One of the unique features of the event is its team-based format, where participants compete in teams of six comprising three doubles pairs. This structure is intended to foster camaraderie, team bonding, and interaction throughout the day, rather than focusing solely on competitive play. Major corporate sponsors will also be invited to participate in leadership showcase matches alongside invited guests, creating opportunities for engagement in a more visible and intentional way.

Beyond the main tournament, Allkin beneficiaries will be part of Rally For Good through specially-curated programme segments. This ensures meaningful participation that is thoughtfully designed around their experience, while also allowing them to share in the wider spirit of community alongside volunteers, sponsors and partners.

For both players and spectators, there will be fringe activities, networking opportunities and interactive booths. We hope attendees leave not only having enjoyed a day of Pickleball but also feeling connected to a larger purpose and inspired to be part of creating positive social impact through Allkin – both on and off the court.

While one-off donations play an important role in supporting our programmes, our goal is to cultivate long-term partnerships that create sustained impact for the communities we serve.

We see Rally For Good as an entry point for deeper engagement. Beyond financial contributions, there are many ways individuals and organisations can support our work, from volunteering their time and expertise, to mentoring beneficiaries, conducting skills-based workshops, supporting community initiatives, or co-creating programmes that address evolving needs on the ground.

For corporate partners, in particular, we hope to foster relationships that extend beyond a single event. This could take the form of sustained giving, employee volunteerism, skills-based contributions, or strategic collaborations that strengthen support for vulnerable individuals and families.

Ultimately, we believe that meaningful social impact is built over time. We are not simply seeking donors for an event but looking to build a community of partners who share our commitment in ensuring that no one journeys alone.

Each year, Allkin journeys with over 20,000 individuals and families facing financial, physical, socio-emotional, and mental health challenges. Funds raised will support Allkin’s programmes, benefitting children, youth, families, seniors, and persons with mental health challenges.

In particular, the funds will enable us to provide:

As our inaugural Pickleball fundraiser, success would definitely entail achieving our fundraising goals. However, we believe the true measure of success goes beyond dollars raised.

We hope Rally For Good becomes a catalyst for new connections, meaningful conversations, and long-term partnerships. Success would mean more people becoming aware of the challenges faced by vulnerable individuals and families, gaining a deeper understanding of Allkin's work, and choosing to stay engaged with our cause beyond the event itself.

We would also love to see participants leave with a stronger appreciation for how sport can be used as a force for good. So, if Rally For Good inspires continued support, deeper volunteer involvement, future collaborations, and even greater participation in community-building efforts, then we would consider that a significant success.

Additionally, if more of our beneficiaries discover Pickleball as a way to stay active, build confidence, and forge meaningful social connections, that would be another meaningful outcome for us.

The decision to organise a Pickleball fundraiser was very intentional. Beyond its rapid growth, Pickleball is a sport that naturally brings people together. It is accessible, inclusive and creates opportunities for connection across different age groups, backgrounds and skill levels.

While it is still early days and we are currently focused on delivering a successful inaugural Rally For Good event, we see strong potential in pickleball as a platform for community-building and social impact.

Whether through future partnerships, community initiatives or fundraising efforts, we remain open to opportunities that celebrate the same spirit that drew us to Pickleball in the first place - bringing people together to connect, collaborate and support one another beyond a game itself.

Financial support remains important in helping us sustain and grow our programmes, but there are many other ways individuals and organisations can make a meaningful difference.

For Rally For Good specifically, we also welcome in-kind sponsorships, including lucky draw prizes, event pack contributions, refreshments, wellness experiences and other offerings that enhance the participant experience, offset event costs, and in turn, allow more funds to be channelled towards beneficiaries.

Outside of Rally For Good, we also welcome volunteers across a range of event-based, skills-based, or service-based opportunities. At its heart, volunteering is about sharing time, skills and compassion. These contributions are just as valuable as financial support in helping us build stronger communities.

(See video here to discover what volunteering looks like at Allkin)

Fareez: Yat brings energy, passion, and encouragement on court. He celebrates every point and still cheers you on even after a terrible shot. With him around, morale will never be low, even if the score is.

Yat: Fareez looks buff, fierce, and intimidating enough that our opponents might already be rattled before the first serve is played.

10.2) What’s your best ‘trash talk’ against each other?

Fareez: “Don’t waste your energy during the match. You’ll need it when you’re picking yourself up after losing.”

Yat: “Playing against you is great because you make me look much better than I actually am.”

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Da Nang, Vietnam will be hosting the Pickleball World Cup from 30 Aug to 6 Sep. SG will be represented (mini yay) in a first-ever ground up initiative called Project Lions by Pickle & Bones and That Pickleball Academy. How did this come about? Why the need for a ground up initiative? And how do we help? We spoke to the two main men leading this - Adrian of Pickle & Bones and Aron of That Pickleball Academy – and asked them what Success would look like to them.

NOTE: ATP is happy to do our bit for this great ground up initiative. And we can all do more. So give what you can, however small here.

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At the recent Asia Pickleball Summit, it was shared that Coaching is the most profitable ‘business’ within Pickleball. AND one of the most important pillars in Pickleball as it helps to draw new players into the sport and improve those who have been bitten by the bug. ATP will be doing a 3-part series on Pickleball coaches in SG coz they deserve a shout out as key members of our ecosystem. Get to know them. You can consider it as window-shopping if you’re in the market for a coach who can vibe with you.

To book a session:

WhatsApp: 8332 3322
Email: [email protected]
IG: @thelionpickleball

To book a session:

You can follow and drop me a DM on IG:
IG: @I_m_Kelvin (Main account)
IG: @Kelvinho_pickleball (PB Account)

To book a session:

Call/Whatsapp: 91874522

Ruey is the founder of Orcinus Lab, a coaching school that not only trains students but also brings them overseas for Pickleball exchange programs.

To book a session:

Call/Whatsapp: 98187402
Email: [email protected]

To book a session:

Call/Whatsapp: 96882258

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Dr Lee Hung Ming was inspired to become an ophthalmologist by his grandmother who went blind at 50 without having timely treatment. He made her proud by becoming one of SG’s top eye surgeons sub-specialising in Refractive Surgery (LASIK, SMILE Pro, ICL surgery) as well as Cataract & Implant Surgery and Corneal Transplant.

His string of ‘firsts’ include being the first eye surgeon in the world to perform Lasik with Iris Tracking Technology, the first in SG to perform Bladeless Lasik, the first in SG, again, to perform Bladeless Cataract surgery using Femtosecind Laser and being the first surgeon to introduce and perform ICL surgery to correct high myopia (65% of our children suffer from myopia btw).

Accolades and achievements aside, the youthful and easy on the eye Dr Lee is a family man (father AND grandfather), a car nut, a multi-discipline sportsman who describes himself as a racquet ‘purist’ who is now, surprise-surprise, an avid Pickleball player. Welcome to the family, Dr Lee.

I came to SG on the ASEAN scholarship when I was in Sec 2. I was a state badminton player then. I picked up other sports along the way and at NUS I represented the Med School and King Edward VII Hall in 6 sports; badminton, table tennis, basketball, volleyball, handball and snooker. (ATP: Dr Lee was President of the Hall as well btw.)

During that period I also captained the title-winning NUS Badminton team at the triennial intervarsity games in Hong Kong. Given my background, you could say
I was a racquet sport purist (like many tennis players) and didn’t initially view Pickleball in a positive way.

Then my wife got into Pickleball followed by my tennis-playing son and it’s through the two of them that I got my first taste of Pickleball. And I was hooked.

I spent my entire Uni life either on the badminton court or courting my wife (she was my classmate and an aesthetic doctor). And now we are on the same Pickleball court. You could say, we are still in ‘courtship’. (ATP: Wait for our Dad joke question leh, Dr Lee!)

That is how I went from ‘purist’ to ‘convert’. 

Every sport has its own history but not every sport enriches the lives of people it touches. Tell me how many sports brings together people in their teens, 20s all the way to 80+, all happily playing together, enjoying the game and company? Pickleball is so easy to pick up even for non-racquet sport people. It makes for easy adoption and easier connections.

My first game was with my daughter who is a squash player, my son who is a tennis player, my son-in-law who plays basketball and my wife who is a table-tennis player. People from very different sporting backgrounds in different phases of our lives…we booked a court at Delta and had a game. And it was fun!

So you can be a ‘purist’ about a sport’s prestige and difficulty etc. I’d rather be a ‘convert’ who likes seeing people come together, seeing them happy and healthy playing a game that cuts across age, gender and communities.

(laughs) I would use the 5 Cs of Pickleball.

One, Pickleball gives Confidence. Anyone can pick it up. You can play with people at a beginner level or higher, practice hitting the ball against a wall when you’re alone at home, get coaching etc and slowly build your confidence. I see many Pickleball players in their 60s, 70s and 80s and they look fitter and walk with a confident gait.

Two, it is Calorie-burning. Try playing 1-2 hours non-stop and see how many calories you burn. You’d be surprised.

Three, it is about Connections. You can play with people of different ages, with friends, family, neighbours, colleagues etc. (ATP: At the recent Asia Pickleball Summit, networking was done over Pickleball games.)

Four, it is about Community. Pickleball is growing fast at the grassroots level, at elite clubs, social clubs (my club has 100+ members), constituency, Reclub etc…and many of them organise games and activities for their members from social games to makan sessions to even non-Pickleball activities, giving people plenty of opportunities to ‘belong’.

And five, it is about Competition. It’s natural to want to get better at a game you play. So while you are playing Pickleball with others, you are always in competition with yourself to be better, to make your shots, win the rally etc. 

So thereyago with my pitch, the 5 Cs of Pickleball.

I play twice a week these days and…I’d say I am improving. As a badminton player, things like footwork and shot anticipation come naturally but I tend to use my wrist a lot. I am learning to correct that. I can drive and slice okay but need a little more confidence in my drop shots and dinking. I’m not taking lessons like my wife does (no time) but I am a student of the game. In fact, my son and I popped into the birthplace of Pickleball in Seattle when we were there two years ago.

The people who invented it borrowed a lot from table-tennis minus the table and coz Americans didn’t know much about table-tennis back then, Pickleball was viewed as tennis-lite. To me, the ingenuity of the inventors was to keep the game accessible unlike say, squash that needs purpose-built courts or tennis that needs real estate (incidentally, both sports are on the decline around the world). One tennis court on the roof of Marina Square can convert to FOUR Pickleball courts!

Pickleball helps me relax mentally and physically. I look forward to the games because they are enjoyable and you are going to be playing with friends and family. You might be competitive over a few points here and there but it’s all in good fun.

(wry smile) Many of them are still ‘purists’ so no, I don’t play Pickleball with my peers but I notice that it’s getting popular among doctors. The younger generation might be different. My daughter who is also a doctor plays with her fellow-doctor friends.

Eye injury is very common in games where the ball is bigger. In badminton, you’d see injuries among doubles players coz they are at the front of the court and can get smashed. In Pickleball, the ball is hard and can be quite fast plus you can get injured by your opponent AND your own partner’s paddle or ball ricochet.

The common injury is subconjunctival hemorrhage where you get bleeding in the white of your eye (looks alarming but often clears within a few weeks). You might get a bit of trauma, pain around the brow region and sometimes abrasion to the cornea but I’ve seen very few of such cases. Worse case scenarios are orbital fractures and retina detachment but I haven’t seen those at all. So far I've treated corneal abrasion, conjunctival abrasion, hemorrhage, bruising and trauma.

Most of these come under Accident coverage so you don’t need any special insurance for playing Pickleball. It’s still a low-risk sport unlike say, skiing which is classified as a high-risk sport which needs additional/specific coverage.

To me, prevention is the best way to take care of yourself. Like wearing goggles or customised protective eyewear when playing Pickleball (make sure it’s not glass). And if you do get injured, get it checked as quickly as possible.

You should also take warm ups seriously coz it’ll increase your blood flow and loosen up your ligaments. Don’t just do a muscle rub/spray as a shortcut.

Same with cooling down. It’s good to stretch when you’re cooling down as it can help reduce the build-up of lactic acid which can lead to stiffness and muscle cramping.

I, myself, had a calf tear when I was playing with my son. Took me a month+ to recover. So no one is immune from injury.

The next 5 years of ophthalmology can be summed up in 3 P’s – Personalisation, Prevention and Prediction.

1. Personalisation – Advancement in multifocal lens in cataract surgery has made it possible for patients to see far, intermediate and near without glasses. So whether it’s cataract surgery, LASIK or ICL implant, we can now tailor our treatments based on patients’ occupation, lifestyle, hobbies and expectations. The days of the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach are ending.

2. Prevention – Myopia is becoming one of the biggest health challenges facing the world especially in Asia. The next 5 years will see major advances made in spectacles, contact lenses, low dose atropine eye drops and even new therapies to treat and prevent childhood myopia.

3. Prediction – AI will transform how we diagnose, treat and monitor eye diseases, as well as doing research. It’s already helping in the early detection of glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. Will AI replace ophthalmologists? I don’t think so. Instead it will give us better tools and allow us more time caring for patients and less time analysing data.

Okay, time for some rapid fire questions. Herewego;

Q9) How competitive are you on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the most competitive?

In Pickleball, 7-8. I enjoy competing but not at the expense of fun or camaraderie.

In Life, 9 as I’m competing with myself. Like I’m always obsessed with the outcome of my surgery, and in my pursuit of achieving perfect vision for all my patients.

Eating carrots improves eyesight. 100-200 years ago when society was poor, people lacked proper nutrition so lacked Vitamin A. It affected their eyes and many went blind. Today, our diet is so balanced that we have vitamins in almost everything we eat, You don’t need more vitamins or supplements to say, prevent cataract. It’s an aging process.

Two things cause childhood myopia – genetics and the environment.

Things like reading too close, spending hours on screens (computer, mobile phones), poor lighting (fluorescent is a friend), reading while lying down…everything adds up.

Try the 20/20 rule. For every 20mins of screen time, get your children to look at things in the distance for 20mins. This is a compromise as is coz studies have found that children who spend 20mins to 2 hours on screens need at least two hours of outdoor activities to reduce their chance of myopia.

If indeed both parents are short-sighted, all the more reason they should ensure their kids have healthier habits.

Rafa Nadal coz of his mentality. He never gives up.

What do you call a fish that cannot see? Fisually impaired.

Why did the iPhone start wearing glasses? It lost all its contacts.

Learn to reset. Slow down.

“I open 2 gifts every morning. My eyes”

I have a question for your readers – Would you rather lose your eyesight or your hearing? (Only one person gave me a good answer that made me go ‘hmmm’.)

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They say, Love turns ordinary men into Fathers. So love of Pickleball might turn ordinary fathers into DUPR Daddies? (We just thought that up 😎 🙌) We spoke to a few Pickleball playing fathers and asked them;

1) Which is easier – saying ‘No’ to your children or explaining the Kitchen Rule to a newbie?

2) How has Pickleball changed family time?

3) Who is the better doubles partner – wife or child?

4) Tell us your favourite Dad joke.

5) And your Father’s Day wish for Dads everywhere.

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You’ve played apples and oranges, right? i.e. choosing from two options. One of our readers suggested a Pickleball version of it on good sportsmanship and we thought he was onto something so…we’ll let you decide.

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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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