Photo Credits to: PCL Asia Rising Stars
Pickleball Champions League Asia (PCL Asia) has unveiled PCL Rising Stars (U19), a groundbreaking youth initiative to discover, nurture, and elevate elite pickleball talent under the age of 19 across Asia. The new program will serve as a competitive and developmental pipeline, tailored for young athletes poised to take the sport to the next level.
Rising Stars (U19) is built around high-level regional play, but with an athlete-first philosophy that prioritizes fairness, exposure, and long-term potential. The format features mixed-gender teams - two male and two female players - who will progress through national, regional, and provincial qualifiers to reach the culminating Finals.
“Pickleball is growing rapidly across Asia, and it is critical that youth development keeps pace with the sport’s momentum,” said Alex Yuen, President of PCL. “Rising Stars is about building the foundation properly by investing in young talent, professional structure, and long-term opportunity.”
A High-Performance Home for the Finals
The Rising Stars Finals will be hosted at the upcoming Asia Elite Pickleball Academy (AEPA), currently under development at the Beijing Haidian Foreign Language Experimental School - Hainan Campus. The site is already recognized as a top-tier institution for Olympic-level athlete training in sports like tennis, equestrian, and fencing.
AEPA is being designed to meet international competition standards, with professional-grade courts, expert coaching, and robust event infrastructure. The academy is a joint venture between the school and Ramsports, China’s leading pickleball brand - merging educational excellence with sport-specific expertise.
PCL Asia sees AEPA as more than just a host venue - it represents a strategic investment in the future of the sport. The long-term vision is for AEPA to become the world’s premier pickleball academy, offering both residential and visiting programs for juniors and professionals.
Photo Credits to: PCL Asia Rising Stars
Scholarships and Life-Changing Opportunities
A key component of the Rising Stars (U19) initiative is access. The winning team and select standout athletes from the Finals will be eligible for scholarships to AEPA. These scholarships will support world-class training and education, creating life-changing opportunities for young players to pursue pickleball at the highest level.
With more than 1,000 players from at least 10 countries expected to participate, Rising Stars is on track to become the largest youth pickleball competition ever staged in Asia. Its scale reflects a broader commitment from PCL Asia to grow the sport with integrity, structure, and athlete-centered innovation.
Through Rising Stars (U19), PCL Asia continues to professionalize pickleball while staying rooted in grassroots development. The league remains focused on building a credible, inclusive, and globally competitive ecosystem for emerging players across the region.
Pickleball Youth in Asia
As qualifiers roll out across Asia, Rising Stars will offer a glimpse into the future of the sport - where youth talent is nurtured with purpose and structure. Keep an eye on the Finals, and even closer on the names that emerge from them.
