Trinh Linh Giang is ready for pickleball festival in Vietnam
The championship at Panas Malaysia Open helped tennis player Trinh Linh Giang make history as the first Vietnamese champion of PPA Tour Asia. The decision to leave tennis to try his hand at pickleball helped Trinh Linh Giang reap "sweet fruit", as he is currently the leading hope of Vietnamese pickleball.
Thanks to the championship in Malaysia, Trinh Linh Giang has accumulated 1,000 points on the PPA Tour Asia ranking. As this is the first tournament in the PPA Tour Asia system, the former Vietnamese tennis player automatically occupies the No. 1 position on the men's singles ranking while the runner-up of the tournament, Vanshik Kapadia (India) is ranked second with 800 points.
Trinh Linh Giang will participate in Vietnam Open in Ho Chi Minh City from September 4-7.
PHOTO: Organizing Committee
PPA Tour Asia is a series of professional pickleball tournaments held in Asia with 3 levels from low to high: Open (total prize of 50,000 USD and 1,000 bonus points), Cup (500,000 USD and 1,500 bonus points), Slam (1 million USD prize and 2,000 bonus points).
Following the victory, Trinh Linh Giang will have a golden opportunity to conquer another PPA Tour Asia title. More specifically, the next tournament within the framework of PPA Tour Asia, called Vietnam Open, will be held in Vietnam from September 4 to 7, within the framework of the Global City Sports Park complex (HCMC).
Sharing with the press, Trinh Linh Giang emphasized: "I am very excited to compete at home, with the support of Vietnamese fans. I will give my all for the country's flag." When asked about her goal at the Vietnam Open, Trinh Linh Giang answered briefly: It is the championship!
Besides Trinh Linh Giang, Vietnamese pickleball also has top UPA Asia Trailblazers players such as Ken Tam and Sophia Tran.
Young talent Sophia Tran also participated in the tournament.
PHOTO: Organizing Committee
Ms. Kimberly Koh, CEO of UPA Asia (operating unit of PPA Tour Asia) affirmed: "MB Vietnam Open is a major milestone in the development of Vietnamese pickleball. Bringing an international-class tournament to Trinh Linh Giang's hometown is a step to create the future of this sport . Together with MB Bank, we are opening the path for professional development for local athletes and inspiring the next generation".
Potential of Vietnamese pickleball
Pickleball has been developing strongly in Asia, especially in Vietnam recently. Besides Trinh Linh Giang, Vietnam also has many strong players such as Phuc Huynh, Ly Hoang Nam, Truong Vinh Hien...
Mr. Duy Duong, father of Vietnamese prodigy Quang Duong (former world fourth place) once shared: "I think that pickleball in Vietnam has only gone 5, 10% and still has a lot of potential to develop. If we have a vision, Vietnam will become a pickleball powerhouse. Vietnam has just developed pickleball but a lot of foreign resources have poured in to invest. We need a spirit of solidarity, creating an association to protect athletes and the pickleball movement. The level of Vietnamese athletes has also improved a lot. However, we can play well domestically, but we have to go far. Hopefully, Vietnamese athletes will step out into the world and reach their potential."
Thanh Nien Newspaper asked Ms. Kimberly Koh (leader of UPA Asia) whether Vietnamese pickleball really has enough potential to reach the world level. Ms. Koh replied: "I think Vietnam in particular and Asian countries in general have a lot of potential to develop racket sports such as badminton, table tennis and especially pickleball.
The important thing is that to become a pickleball powerhouse, Vietnam has the infrastructure, spreads the message for young people to practice pickleball and creates conditions for young athletes to develop their careers. Currently, some Vietnamese athletes have had the opportunity to go abroad (including the US) to learn, exchange and compete. I hope the government and sponsors will join hands to develop Vietnamese pickleball."
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/trinh-linh-giang-san-sang-chinh-phuc-vietnam-open-viet-nen-lich-su-cho-pickleball-nuoc-nha-185250722193220879.htm
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