NAKATAKDANG mag-host ang Pilipinas ng dalawang malalaking international tournaments sa susunod na taon, na inaasahang higit pang magpapalakas sa presensya ng bansa sa fast-rising racket sport na pickleball.

Inanunsyo ang mga torneo sa isang special meet-and-greet event na tampok ang world No. 2 women’s pickleball player na si Anna Bright, na inihandog ng InLife sa SM Mall of Asia sa Pasay City.

Nagpahayag ng kumpiyansa si Kosmas Athletic Ventures Corporation head of operations Richard “Dickie” Bachmann sa kakayahan ng bansa na idaos ang dalawang torneo: ang PPA Asia 125 sa Enero 14–17 at ang PPA Asia 500 Manila Open sa Pebrero 24–28.

Gaganapin ang dalawang torneo sa Helios Sparc Pickleball Center sa Bridgetowne, Pasig City.

“We needed her [Anna Bright] to update everyone that the PPA 125 is very important for us. We just came from a summit in Hong Kong, and they were amazed by the popularity of pickleball right now. It is now bringing international tournaments over here,” ani Bachmann sa media huddle.

Sinabi ng dating Philippine Sports Commission chairman na magbibigay ang dalawang torneo ng mas maraming pagkakataon sa mga Pinoy pickleball players na makilahok sa importanteng international competitions, magkaroon ng mahalagang karanasan at makatulong sa pagtatatag ng isang propesyonal na liga na kahalintulad ng Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

“Definitely. And they will bring in Major League Pickleball. We could start a pro league and incorporate business, just like the PBA, which has been targeted by the end of next year. Hopefully, we could finish the facility by December and move forward with the tournament,” aniya.

“For us, for the people here, we get to experience the PPA here, kasi ang daming Pilipino na they go to Vietnam or Malaysia just to play for the PPA, and they had to come over and we bring it here. We have a wish list of top pros from the world coming,” dagdag niya.

Bukod sa pagpapatayo ng angkop na pasilidad, pinag-aaralan din ng Kosmas ang pagsasagawa ng grassroots clinics at mga pagsasanay para sa internationally certified coaches at table officials upang higit pang mapaunlad ang pickleball community sa bansa. Ni Gab Ferreras