Ryan Ng Set To Represent Singapore On Global Stage Through UPA Asia Trailblazers Program
Source: The Strait Times
Singapore’s rising pickleball talent Ryan Ng is preparing for a major leap in his athletic journey, as he joins the inaugural UPA Asia Trailblazers Program in the United States.
Fresh off completing his National Service this past weekend, the 21-year-old is among 12 athletes selected across Asia—including players from China, Taiwan, Macau, Vietnam, South Korea, Malaysia, and Japan—for a first-of-its-kind developmental initiative hosted at Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Arizona.
The Trailblazers Program, backed by the United Pickleball Association (UPA), is designed to cultivate elite pickleball talent from Asia and integrate them into the sport’s expanding global ecosystem. Participants receive hands-on mentorship from top-tier American pros, expert coaching, and media training to help them grow as players and as personal brands.
For Ng, who only picked up a paddle three years ago after transitioning from tennis, the opportunity is both exciting and surreal.
“I never really thought about going pro in pickleball, but it is definitely a dream come true,” Ng shared in a recent interview with The Straits Times. “And I’m excited to play pickleball at that high level. It definitely also means committing to the sport in every way, and hopefully it’s just the start of something bigger.”
Beyond training, Trailblazers will compete in select PPA Tour and MLP events during their three-month immersion. After completing the program, each athlete will sign a two-year UPA Asia contract, opening doors to high-level competition across the region through PPA Tour Asia and MLP Asia, set to launch later this year.
Ng, the sole Singaporean selected, is embracing both the pressure and the honor of representing his country.
“It’s a great honor to be the only Singaporean selected for the program. And to me, it is a source of pride to represent my country on the international level,” he said. “But I think it also comes with a sense of responsibility. When I’m there in the U.S. playing and competing, I’m not just playing for myself, but also for my country.”
Ng’s debut in the United States will come sooner rather than later. He is set to compete at the Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships—a PPA Tour event—later this month at Life Time Peachtree Corners in Georgia.
The journey ahead promises intense training and rigorous matches. But for Ng, it’s all part of the plan to grow into a world-class competitor.
“Pickleball is my new-found love and I will make the most out of this program and strive to be the best that I can,” he said. “I think I just have to take it one step at a time. While I’m there, I’d have to focus on sharpening my game. Consistency has kind of been an issue because I haven’t been able to play as much as I would like. I’m definitely going to be playing a lot, like six days a week.”
As Asia’s presence in global pickleball continues to expand, Ryan Ng is emerging as one of its most promising ambassadors—poised to make an impact both on and off the court.