The Moonsoon Pickleball Championship 3.0, held from 31/7 to 3/8 in Navi Mumbai, attracted over 800 competitors vying for a share of the $60,000 prize pool (over 1.5 billion VND). This marks Duong's first tournament appearance since his removal from the UPA, terminating his exclusive contract for PPA and MLP tournaments in the US.

Quang Duong featured in a promotional poster for the Moonsoon Pickleball Championship 3.0 in Navi Mumbai, India. Photo: Global Sports Event

Quang Duong featured in a promotional poster for the Moonsoon Pickleball Championship 3.0 in Navi Mumbai, India. Photo: Global Sports Event

In the men's singles, the 19-year-old Vietnamese-American athlete began his campaign against Purvansh Patel. Despite a slow start and a 7-7 tie, Duong regained his composure to win 11-8.

Riding this momentum, he defeated Vimal Raj and Yugal Bansal, both with a score of 11-1, securing the top spot in his group.

In the knockout stage, played to 15 points, Duong faced a formidable opponent in Ryler Deheart. However, the 19-year-old dominated the match, winning 15-2 to advance to the next round.

In the quarterfinals, Duong rallied from a 6-0 deficit against Arjun, scoring 15 consecutive points to secure a 15-6 victory and a spot in the semifinals, which took place today, 1/8.

In addition to the men's singles, Duong is also competing in the men's and mixed doubles. In the mixed doubles, he reunited with his former Team Selkirk partner, Emilia Schmidt. Schmidt, a familiar face on the American APP circuit, is known for her intelligent and consistent play, promising a captivating performance alongside Duong.

In the men's doubles, Duong is partnering with Harsh Mehta, the men's doubles champion at the 2025 Panas Malaysia Open, part of the PPA Tour Asia. Mehta's solid and agile playing style combined with Duong's technical prowess makes them strong contenders for the title.

Duong's younger brother, Bao Duong, is also participating in the tournament, competing in the men's doubles. He is partnering with local player Vishal Jadhav. The combination of their youthful energy, speed, and Jadhav's experience is expected to make them a formidable pair.

Quang Duong at a pickleball event with Vietnamese fans in Ho Chi Minh City, 23/7. Photo: Duc Dong

Quang Duong at a pickleball event with Vietnamese fans in Ho Chi Minh City, 23/7. Photo: Duc Dong

Duong Thien Quang, born in 2006 in Manhattan Beach, California, to Vietnamese parents, began his athletic journey under the guidance of his father, a former table tennis player. He was introduced to various racket sports at a young age.

Initially focusing on tennis and table tennis, Duong discovered pickleball in 2020. Since turning professional, he has achieved remarkable success in international tournaments, climbing to 6th in the world in men's singles according to the PPA Rankings as of July 2025.

Beloved by the Vietnamese pickleball community, Duong frequently returns to his homeland to compete, connect with fans, and share his expertise. He is credited with raising the profile of Vietnamese pickleball on the global stage. Beyond pickleball, he also plays tennis and practices martial arts for fitness, though not professionally.

Recently, Duong was removed from the PPA Rankings and the MLP after the US Pickleball Association (UPA) terminated his professional contract. The UPA cited a breach of his exclusive commercial contract due to his unannounced absence from their tournament.

However, his father and representative, Duong Duy Duc, stated that the removal and contract termination will not hinder his son's career. He aims for Duong to pursue pickleball opportunities worldwide, not just in the US.

As of 10/7, Duong is ranked number one in men's singles with 6,865 points and first in men's doubles with 6,602 points, according to the DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating).

Duc Dong