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Asian Americans Rally Behind Pickleball Boom
By Kelli Luu | 19 Jun, 2025
From local leagues to million-dollar tournaments, Asian Americans lead the charge into the pickleball craze
Asian Americans are upsizing from ping pong and serving pickleball. What was once a classic retirement activity has been America’s fastest growing sport for the last four years and Asian Americans are already ahead of the game.
According to a SFIA Topline Participation Report, in 2024, there were an estimated 19.8 million pickleball players in the United States, which was a 45.8% increase from 2023.
The current global pickleball market size sits at $2.5 billion dollars and is forecasted to reach $9.1 billion by 2034.
In Asia, this year’s Professional Pickleball Association Tour has already kicked off with five tournaments in Japan, Malaysia, and China and a prize pool of over $1 million, making it clear just how serious this game is.
Meanwhile in the US, MLP (Major League Pickleball) was established in 2021 with 22 co-ed teams and big names like Tom Brady, Lebron James, Patrick Mahomes, and Mark Cuban have all invested into MLP teams
The origins of paddle sports can be traced all the way back to ancient Asia. With familiar roots in badminton and ping pong, it is not surprising seeing how popular pickleball has become amongst Asian Americans.
With over 68,000 courts currently in the US, they're organizing leagues, meetups, and youth training programs, creating pickleball communities.
Pickleball is active, accessible, and also social, which is why it has been thriving in the states. The average pickleball player age is 34.8 years old, proving the sport can attract younger players, not just those ready to retire.
For many Asian Americans, this game is more than just a great way to get your cardio in. It’s familiar and has the ability to bring generations together. The rest of the US is just now starting to catch on, but Asian Americans are already serving up their community with a clutch backhand.
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