PPA Tour Asia Sets Stage For Landmark 2025 Season Across The Continent
Source: Pickleball.com
The PPA Tour Asia has officially launched its inaugural 2025 season with five high-level tournaments announced as part of the first wave of its international expansion. The newly unveiled calendar underscores the tour’s commitment to building a premier competitive platform across the fastest-growing markets in pickleball.
The season kicks off in July with the Panas Kuala Lumpur Open in Malaysia and continues with an exciting East Asian leg that includes the Hong Kong Open and Sansan Fukuoka Open in Japan, both slated for August. The action crescendos in October with the China Slam, the tour’s flagship event, followed by a return to Malaysia for the Kuala Lumpur Cup.
Here’s a look at the initial 2025 schedule for PPA Tour Asia (more dates and venues are expected to be announced soon):
Panas Kuala Lumpur Open (Malaysia) – July 3–6
Hong Kong Open (China) – August 21–24
Sansan Fukuoka Open (Japan) – August 26–31
China Slam (China) – October 1–5
Kuala Lumpur Cup (Malaysia) – October 9–12
“Launching the 2025 PPA Tour Asia is a major step forward for the global growth of pickleball,” said Kimberly Koh, Managing Director of UPA Asia. “These events will bring top-tier competition to Asia’s dynamic sports markets while creating meaningful opportunities for players, fans, and partners. The China Slam, as part of the UPA International Championship Series, lays the groundwork for pickleball’s expansion into new frontiers.”
A Three-Tiered System To Foster Regional And Global Growth
The PPA Tour Asia will operate on a structured three-tier tournament system—Slam, Cup, and Open—ensuring both accessibility and prestige throughout its calendar.
Slam Events: These premier tournaments offer 2,000 ranking points and up to $1 million USD in prize money, featuring elite international talent, including top American pros, rising Asian stars, and seasoned Australian competitors. The China Slam is the marquee Slam event of the season.
Cup Events: Offering 1,500 points and approximately $500,000 USD in payouts, Cup tournaments focus on regional professionals and rising stars, delivering a high level of play while highlighting Asia’s emerging talent.
Open Events: With 1,000 points and a minimum of $50,000 USD in prize money, Open events provide critical platforms for local players and federations to grow the sport across the region.
Each tournament on the calendar contributes to the official PPA Tour Asia Rankings, with athletes vying for the coveted No. 1 ranking while earning exposure and momentum within the international pickleball community.
A Strategic Leap For Pickleball’s Global Future
With this inaugural calendar, PPA Tour Asia is taking a bold step toward establishing a unified and competitive professional circuit across the continent. From Kuala Lumpur to Fukuoka, the 2025 schedule promises not just elite competition but also cultural exchange, new audiences, and the deepening of pickleball’s footprint across Asia.
This isn’t just a schedule—it’s a signal. Pickleball has truly gone global, and Asia is poised to play a central role in its next chapter.
