ASICS opens temporary pickleball courts in Tokyo’s Marunouchi district

ASICS opens temporary pickleball courts in Tokyo’s Marunouchi district

ASICS opened two full-size pickleball courts at Tokyo Building TOKIA in Marunouchi on Oct. 31, with the temporary venue scheduled to operate through Dec. 27. The covered courts are available daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and players can book and pay by the hour in advance.

The company, which began its pickleball business in the United States in 2021, said the site is intended to give people in the busy business district a chance to try the sport. Court rental ranges from 7,000 yen to 10,000 yen per hour depending on the day and time; paddles and shoes are available to rent.

Australia and Asia Domestic lead MLP Nations Cup opening day

Australia and Asia Domestic each won both of their opening-day matches at the inaugural MLP Nations Cup on Oct. 30, taking the early lead in Groups B and A, respectively. Australia beat Asia International and Europe East by 3-1, while Asia Domestic defeated Europe West and Canada by the same score.

The United States opened with a 3-1 win over Canada, and Europe East followed its loss to Australia with a 3-0 victory over Latin America. The top two teams in each group after the group stage are set to advance to the semifinals.

JW Johnson becomes top-rated player on DUPR system

American JW Johnson became the highest-rated pickleball player on the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating system, reaching a rating of 7.066, Times Now reported. The outlet attributed his rise to a run of strong recent performances.

Times Now described Johnson as an aggressive player known for quick reactions and control, and said the rating places him at the top of the global DUPR rankings.

Nearly 500 athletes compete in Hue badminton, table tennis and pickleball event

A tournament organized by Hue city’s People’s Committee Party Committee and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism drew 477 athletes from 35 agencies, units and businesses, HNN.VN reported. Participants competed in badminton, table tennis and pickleball, including men’s, women’s and mixed doubles.

The annual event was intended to promote health and recreation for public employees and workers outside work hours. Matches were held at the Hue City Cultural and Sports Square gymnasium and the Hue Industrial College grounds.

Pro pickleball players Kenta Miyoshi and Aiko Yoshitomi sign with PCKL Studio

Japanese professional players Kenta Miyoshi and Aiko Yoshitomi signed a management agreement with PCKL Studio, the Tokyo-based pickleball lifestyle brand, the Sanyo Shimbun reported. The deal covers support for their competition careers as well as sponsorship, media, events and products.

The couple signed professional contracts with the PPA in 2026 and have competed in Asia and the United States, the report said. PCKL Studio plans to develop apparel and products, organize events and clinics, and produce content with the pair.

USA Pickleball National Championships return to Point Loma

The 2026 Oceanview USA Pickleball National Championships began Oct. 31 at Barnes Tennis Center in Point Loma, San Diego Reader reported. The nine-day competition includes professional, junior, collegiate, amateur and wheelchair divisions, with more than $225,000 in professional prize money.

The championships are being held at Barnes for a second consecutive year. The venue added 50 permanent pickleball courts, and spectators can attend without paying admission if they reserve free tickets in advance, the Reader reported.

More than 200 players enter Son Tra Ward Open tournament

More than 200 athletes took part in the 2026 Son Tra Ward Open Pickleball Tournament, which opened Oct. 31 at a court on Ho Thau Street in Da Nang, Vietnam.vn reported. Competitors included officials, public employees, workers, armed forces members and school representatives.

The tournament featured six doubles categories. Organizers also provided health insurance cards to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a total cost of 35 million Vietnamese dong, the reports said.

477 athletes compete in Shandong pickleball league final

The 2026 Shandong Provincial Pickleball Super League concluded Oct. 18 in Jinan after two days of finals, Qilu.com reported. Twenty-two teams competed in youth and trend-group team events, following earlier league stops in Zibo, Dongying, Yantai and Binzhou.

The league used a points-based format across its stops before the final. Organizers said they aim to continue developing competitions, facilities, talent and local organizations to bring the sport to schools, communities, businesses and other settings.

Five-region pickleball tournament opens in Xingwen

A pickleball tournament for players from Sichuan, Chongqing, Shaanxi, Gansu and Qinghai opened Oct. 31 in Xingwen, according to People’s Daily Online’s Sichuan channel. The mixed team event includes men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles, with divisions for ages 18 to 35, 36 to 49 and 50 to 65.

Organizers also set up activities for local residents and invited competitors to meet visitors. The report said athletes, officials and event workers could receive free admission to the Xingwen Stone Sea scenic area and accommodation discounts.

Kyle Stoker reaches Paramount Cup singles final after switching from tennis

Australian player Kyle Stoker finished runner-up in men’s singles at the 2026 Paramount Cup in Subang Jaya, Malaysia, after losing the final 8-11, 8-11 to the Philippines’ Patrick Ares Mendoza, the Sun Malaysia reported. Stoker took up competitive pickleball about two and a half years ago after a long tennis career.

Stoker said he is now mainly coaching and hopes to help grow the sport in Australia. He was among 1,000 participants from 18 countries at the tournament, held from Oct. 22 to 25, and was also scheduled to play men’s doubles with compatriot Alexander Tran.