Pickleball

Việt Nam's world pickleball champion Sophia Trần Phương Anh. Photo of Phương Anh

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese athletes won three titles at the ongoing World Pickleball Championship Series in Bali, Indonesia.

Teenager Sophia Trần Phương Anh and her partner Nathan Willis defeated Anna Clarice Patrimonio and Davis Alano of the Philippines 21-14 to top the mixed doubles 4.5 over-19 category.

Anh and Willis had to play nine matches in one day to claim their gold medal.

The 16-year-old Anh is the Vietnamese youngest player competing internationally. Previously, she was a tennis player switching to pickleball after a shoulder injury.

Anh hoped to improve her skills so that she could participate in the elite events like Pro Tour of Pickleball.

Earlier, duo Lý Minh Triết and Lý Minh Tân won the Open 50+ category, beating Jih Shian Yeo of Singapore and Yeong Ding Hwang of Chinese Taipei 21-12 in the final match.

The siblings secured unbeaten streak at the Bali event, including a 15-2 victory over Indonesian Rudy Gusnadi and Joni Marhenriyanto in the quarter-finals, and 15-8 against Edy Kurniawan and Igusti Ngurah of the hosts in the semi-finals.

The Lý brothers won two world golds at the World Pickleball Championship Series 2024 in Bali, Indonesia. Photo of Lý Minh Tân

"We are happy with the championship title, especially when we overcame Jih Shian, who has the highest ranked points in Asia, in this championship," said Triết.

"We proved that Việt Nam is a tough rival here as we beat all rivals with high scores. It is due to the quick and skilful reflexes of Vietnamese people."

It was the brothers' second world title after their first one in the over-30 Open.

Việt Nam also bagged silvers in the 4.5 over-19 category by duo Lê Minh and Lê Thọ and 4.5 over-35 category by Nguyễn Minh Thảo.

The championship is being held from September 24-30 with a purse of US$100,000 awarded to high-ranking players.

This competition is open to the players of nearly all ages (19+, 35+, 50+, and 60+) and skills (3.5, 4.5, and 5.0+).

The next destination of the 12-stop series will be held in Indian in October.

All players will earn GPR ranking points from each event they compete in.

The players competing in the 5.0 skill level will also receive ranking points toward the "RACE TO CARMELINA" ranking, giving the top 20 players/teams a chance to qualify automatically to the WPC FINALS, which will be held on January 14-19, 2025, at the Carmelina Beach Resort in Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu, Việt Nam. VNS