At 9 h one day in mid-November, at a pickleball court on Tu Hoang street, Nam Tu Liem ward, Huan adjusted his wheelchair's wheel angle and warmed up with his playing partner before a set.

On the court, the sports wheelchair serves as his legs. Holding the paddle in his right hand, Huan firmly grips the rolling rim with his left hand to steer. During a long rally, when an opponent drops the ball near the net, the 40-year-old architect stretches forward, using shoulder strength to push the wheels rapidly, lightly flicking the ball over the net, then braking sharply to avoid a foul.

"The hardest part is judgment. If I hesitate for one second, I cannot turn the wheels back in time and immediately lose the point," Huan said. In doubles, coordination needs to be many times more seamless. Two bulky wheelchairs moving within a limited court area demand precise positioning. Without mutual understanding, collisions or missed blocks are unavoidable.

Nguyen Van Huan, 40 years old, plays pickleball at a practice court in Xuan Phuong ward, Hanoi, on 14/11. Photo: Quynh Nguyen

A workplace accident in 2011 caused a spinal injury, confining Huan to a wheelchair. He tried golf, archery, and tennis to regain balance, but it was not until March 2025, when the Hanoi Disabled Sports Club (VDADC) introduced pickleball for trial, that he was truly captivated.

According to him, pickleball requires full-body movement rather than just a few muscle groups like other sports. The player's back, shoulders, and arms must work at full capacity. Despite the continuous intense physical activity causing nerve compression and pain, and his relatives advising him to reduce intensity due to the challenging travel distance, Huan persists.

"This sport brings a sense of conquest; the more I play, the more 'addicted' I become, so even if it hurts, I still want to be on the court," he said. From being a timid person after his accident, he has regained confidence and believes no limit is insurmountable.

Members of the Disabled Sports Club (VDADC) play pickleball at a practice court in Nam Tu Liem ward, on the morning of 14/11. Photo: Quynh Nguyen

Not only Huan, but Hoang Hai Yen, 54 years old, from Bach Mai ward, Hanoi, has also been regularly driving her three-wheeled vehicle to the practice court since July. Born with a mobility impairment, Yen finds pickleball places moderate stress on her body. For her, the court is not only a place for physical training but also a space to overcome self-consciousness.

"I want to prove that disabled people also have the right to play and access mainstream sports like able-bodied individuals," Yen said.

At the club, members like Huan and Yen do not practice spontaneously. Professional instructors guide them, from rules and paddle techniques to wheelchair movement strategies. Yen stated that in the beginning, when she was not used to coordinating many muscle groups simultaneously, she frequently experienced pain, sometimes needing half a day to recover at home.

Luong Thi Minh Nguyet, Chairperson of VDADC, said the unit began promoting pickleball in April. The club currently has 40 players out of a total of 150 members, with an average age of 20-40. The ratio of wheelchair players to those with limb deficiencies (arms, legs) is 50/50.

To ensure safety, the club hires a dedicated coach and adapts foreign curricula to suit the physical condition of Vietnamese people. However, the biggest obstacle remains equipment.

A specialized wheelchair for pickleball costs up to 100 million dong. Due to limited funds, the club has only acquired a few, with some others modified from tennis wheelchairs. Most members still use their everyday wheelchairs, which are heavy and lack power-assist functions. Finding practice courts is also difficult, as many court owners worry that the wheels will damage the surface, despite sports tires being made of specialized rubber.

Four members out of 40 participants in the pickleball club of the Disabled Sports Club (VDADC). Photo: Quynh Nguyen

Overcoming material challenges, Huan and his teammates are actively training for the second Para Pickleball Hanoi Open, expected to be held in early December.

Beyond Hanoi, the pickleball movement for disabled people is spreading to many provinces and cities. Leading the way is Ho Chi Minh City, with the Para Pickleball Club established in June 2023, attracting nearly 30 regular members. Many large-scale tournaments, such as the 2024 Wheelchair Pickleball Championship and the 2025 Ho Chi Minh City Disabled Sports Championship, are being planned, contributing to making this sport a meaningful inclusive playground nationwide.

Members of the Disabled Sports Club (VDADC) play pickleball at a practice court in Xuan Phuong ward, on the morning of 14/11. Video: Quynh Nguyen

Quynh Nguyen