The Leapmotor APP Asia Penang Open 2026 concluded after five spectacular days of world-class pickleball, bringing together elite professionals, rising Asian stars and passionate amateur players from across the continent in one of the most competitive tournaments ever staged on the APP Asia Tour.

As the second stop of the inaugural APP Asia Tour, the Penang Open welcomed 1,386 player participations from 22 countries, including more than 100 professional athletes, competing for a USD35,000 prize purse. Held at the iconic Pickle By The Sea along Penang's Gurney Drive, the tournament once again demonstrated the Tour's vision of creating Asia's premier professional pickleball circuit by providing an open platform where the world's best professionals compete alongside the continent's next generation of talent.

Across five days of competition, fans witnessed dramatic upsets, breakthrough performances and championship-calibre pickleball, further reinforcing the APP Asia Tour's rapid emergence as one of the fastest-growing professional pickleball tours in the world.

‍

Quang Duong Continues His Dominance

Vietnam's Quang Duong once again proved why he is regarded as one of the brightest stars in world pickleball.

The dynamic left-hander captured the Men's Pro Singles championship after defeating China's teenage sensation Phoenix He in the final before partnering India's Harsh Mehta to secure the Men's Pro Doubles title, completing an impressive double-gold performance.

Competing against one of the deepest professional fields assembled on the APP Asia Tour this season, Duong's success further cemented his reputation as one of the sport's premier competitors while highlighting the growing strength of professional pickleball across Asia.

Roos Van Reek Completes Historic Triple Crown

If one athlete defined the Leapmotor APP Asia Penang Open 2026, it was undoubtedly Roos Van Reek.

The Dutch star delivered one of the most dominant performances ever witnessed on the APP Asia Tour by completing a historic Triple Crown, winning the Women's Pro Singles, Women's Pro Doubles and Mixed Pro Doubles titles during the same tournament.

Van Reek first captured the Women's Pro Singles championship before teaming up with Vivian Glozman (USA) to secure the Women's Pro Doubles title. She then partnered Jack Munro (Australia) to claim the Mixed Pro Doubles championship, becoming the only player in Penang to win three professional gold medals.

Winning three professional divisions over five demanding days requires extraordinary consistency, physical endurance and mental resilience. Her remarkable achievement firmly establishes Van Reek as one of the APP Asia Tour's biggest stars.

Asia's Next Generation Takes Centre Stage

Beyond the championship podium, the Leapmotor APP Asia Penang Open showcased the emergence of a new generation of Asian pickleball stars, with breakthrough performances from China, Malaysia and across the region capturing the attention of fans throughout the week.

One of the tournament's biggest revelations was 16-year-old Phoenix He of China, who produced a sensational run to the Men's Pro Singles final. A former professional table tennis athlete and Chinese National Table Tennis Champion, He defeated a series of experienced international opponents to claim the silver medal before eventually falling to Quang Duong in the championship match. His fearless performances and remarkable maturity firmly established him as one of Asia's brightest young pickleball prospects.

The host nation also celebrated a career-defining achievement through Aiman Hamdan, who captured the Men's Pro Singles bronze medal—Malaysia's only professional podium finish of the tournament. His outstanding campaign demonstrated the continued rise of Malaysian pickleball and its growing ability to compete against many of the world's leading professionals.

Malaysia's depth was further evident throughout the week as Khoo Er Yang stunned tournament top seed Jack Foster (USA) in one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, while Dylan Ooi rallied from a game down to defeat Australia's third seed Brian Tran, with both players advancing to the quarterfinals.

Collectively, these performances demonstrated the APP Asia Tour's mission of providing Asia's emerging talents with a world-class platform to compete against the sport's elite while showcasing the rapidly growing depth of pickleball talent across the continent.

Champions Crowned

Men's Pro Singles

🥇 Quang Duong (Vietnam)

🥈 Phoenix He (China)

🥉 Aiman Hamdan (Malaysia)

Women's Pro Singles

🥇 Roos Van Reek (Netherlands)

🥈 Yu-Chieh Hsieh (Chinese Taipei)

🥉 Selina Turulja (Australia)

Men's Pro Doubles

🥇 Quang Duong (Vietnam) / Harsh Mehta (India)

🥈 Jack Munro (USA) / Aidan Schenk (USA)

🥉 Santhosh Narayanan (India) / Max Manthou (USA)

Women's Pro Doubles

🥇 Roos Van Reek (Netherlands) / Vivian Glozman (USA)

🥈 Domenika Turkovic (Croatia) / Shelby Bates (USA)

🥉 Amanda Hendry (USA) / Allison Harris (USA)

Mixed Pro Doubles

🥇 Jack Munro (Australia) / Roos Van Reek (Netherlands)

🥈 Quang Duong (Vietnam) / Amanda Hendry (Australia)

🥉 Max Manthou (USA) / Shelby Bates (USA)

Building Asia's Premier Professional Pickleball Tour

Beyond the medals and championship matches, the APP Asia Tour continues to redefine the competitive landscape of pickleball throughout Asia.

Unlike many professional circuits, the APP Asia Tour operates on an open competition model, providing aspiring players from across the continent—regardless of whether they are professionally signed with the APP or not—the opportunity to compete directly against many of the world's leading professionals while earning valuable ranking points and international recognition.

The Tour also remains the first professional pickleball circuit in Asia to be officially sanctioned by both the Asian Pickleball Association (APA) and the Asia Federation of Pickleball (AFP), creating a credible and transparent pathway for athletes while strengthening collaboration across the region's governing bodies.

By bringing together elite professionals, rising regional talent, juniors, seniors and amateur competitors within the same tournament environment, the APP Asia Tour is creating one of the world's most inclusive and accessible professional sporting ecosystems.

Momentum Continues Across Asia

Following two successful events in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, the APP Asia Tour now continues its inaugural season with upcoming stops in China, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Vietnam and India, further expanding its footprint across the continent.

Each destination represents another step in the Tour's mission to elevate pickleball throughout Asia by creating world-class competitions, developing emerging talent and connecting local communities with the highest level of international professional play.

As the Tour continues to grow, the Leapmotor APP Asia Penang Open 2026 will be remembered not only for its thrilling championship matches and historic performances, but also for showcasing the extraordinary depth of talent emerging across Asia.

From Quang Duong's double-gold performance and Roos Van Reek's historic Triple Crown to the breakthrough campaigns of Phoenix He, Aiman Hamdan and a new generation of rising Asian stars, Penang delivered another defining chapter in the growth of professional pickleball across the continent.

One Tour. Every Level. Asia and Beyond.

‍