Pickleball has been becoming an attractive sport, drawing an increasing number of people from various age groups to practise and compete, contributing to the enrichment of the physical exercise and sports movements in the city. Many clubs and training centres for pickleball have been established to meet the demand of the players.

Pickleball brings great appeal, attracting many athletes to train and compete. IN PHOTO: Athletes competing in the 2024 Hai Chau District Open Pickleball Tournament. Photo: P.N

Pickleball originated in the United States in 1965, combining elements of table tennis, tennis, and badminton. Its simple gameplay makes it suitable for various groups of people. Pickleball has five categories: men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles. These categories are similar to those in tennis, table tennis, and badminton. An athlete can practise and compete in all five categories of pickleball. A set has a maximum of 21 points, and players can compete in up to five sets per match.

In Da Nang, despite being a new sport, pickleball has attracted a large number of players. In the late afternoons and evenings at the Tuyen Son Sports Arena, the atmosphere of pickleball practice and competition is lively and exciting. This is a meeting and exchange place for pickleball enthusiasts across the city.

Mr. Nguyen Van Khanh, living in Hoa Xuan Ward, Cam Le District shared, "I have played tennis for 10 years and was introduced to pickleball by friends. After experiencing it, I gradually became passionate about this sport. Pickleball is not only a recreational sport but also requires skills and physical strength. Regular practice of this sport brings players flexibility and robust health. Twice a week after work, I train and compete with friends to improve my skills. I hope this sport will spread widely, more people will know about it, and there will be more courts so everyone can experience, socialise, and improve their health."

To meet the demand of athletes, many clubs and training centres for pickleball have been established. Among them, the Dat Phat Sports Centre attracts a large number of athletes.

According to Mr. Nguyen Huu Dat, the Executive Director of the Dat Phat Sports Centre, in addition to golf, tennis, badminton, and swimming, the centre has opened pickleball training courses to meet learners' needs. Currently, the centre has over 100 learners training in pickleball daily under the guidance of six experienced coaches. Learners are trained from basic to advanced levels according to their needs. The centre focuses on teaching learners techniques, physical fitness, and strategies in competitions.

Particularly, young athletes with a passion for the sport are trained to play systematically and participate in pickleball competitions. "Pickleball is suitable for all ages and is a good health exercise for everyone if practised and played correctly. Choosing a coach with expertise and experience is crucial for players to quickly adapt and excel at this sport. The centre frequently recruits learners to best serve the players' needs, contributing to spreading this sport further in the community," Mr. Dat said.

To promote the development of pickleball, many competitions have been organised by various units and localities. Recently, the Hai Chau District Cultural and Sports Centre, in collaboration with Dat Phat Sports Centre, organised the Hai Chau District Open Pickleball Tournament 2024, with over 120 athletes from pickleball clubs across the city. The athletes were divided into groups to compete in men's doubles and mixed doubles, with ranking points calculated according to DPR 5.00 and DPR 6.00.

 Mr. Tran Van Manh, Director of the Hai Chau District Cultural and Sports Centre, said that the first-time organisation of the tournament was successful, bringing great appeal. In the future, the centre will coordinate with units to organise more pickleball tournaments to diversify sports venues for athletes.

According to Mr. Nguyen Trong Thao, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports, the strong development of pickleball is a new feature in the city's physical exercise and sports movement, continuing to effectively implement the campaign "All people exercise following the example of the great Uncle Ho".

The city encourages units and localities to establish pickleball clubs and organise systematic and professional training. At the same time, pickleball will be included in the competition content of tournaments at agencies, units, and localities, contributing to enriching and promoting the development of the physical exercise and sports movement.

Reporting by PHI NONG - Translating by TRUC VY