On 3/7, the Minister of Home Affairs signed a decision permitting the establishment of the Vietnam Pickleball Federation. The inaugural General Assembly for the Federation's first term, from 2026 to 2031, was held in Ha Noi on 28/7, electing 37 members to its Executive Committee.

Le Van Thanh was elected as the first President of the VPF. The nine Vice Presidents are To Duy, Dinh Dac Vinh, Pham Xuan Tai, Le Thanh Ha, Tran Manh Ut, Nguyen Ba Canh, Phan Thanh Thien, Nguyen Manh Thang, and Nguyen Vu Nghi. Mr. Nghi also holds the position of General Secretary.

The inaugural General Assembly of the Vietnam Pickleball Federation for its first term (2026-2031) was held in Ha Noi on 28/7/2026. Photo: Quy Luong

"Pickleball has emerged as a sport with a strong spread in Vietnam, due to its appeal, accessibility, and suitability for various ages and training conditions," stated Hoang Dao Cuong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism. "The establishment of the VPF is a significant milestone, creating a foundation for this sport to develop in a structured, professional, and sustainable manner."

During its first term, the VPF has eight key orientations, aiming to expand the nationwide pickleball community and increase its network of members and clubs. The Federation will also standardize the training system for coaches, referees, and athletes, and organize competitions. Additionally, it plans to apply science, technology, and artificial intelligence to management, training, and activity organization. Furthermore, the VPF will expand international cooperation, enhancing Vietnam's pickleball standing regionally and globally.

Le Van Thanh serves as President of the Vietnam Pickleball Federation for its first term. Photo: Quy Luong

With a vision extending to 2035, the VPF strives to make Vietnam one of Asia's leading nations in pickleball development, building a synchronous organizational system, high-quality human resources, and gradually improving international competitive performance. By 2045, Vietnam aims to become a destination for international pickleball tournaments.

Originating in the US in 1965, pickleball is a hybrid sport combining elements of tennis, table tennis, and badminton. While no global competition system currently exists for pickleball, several professional leagues operate in the US, such as the PPA Tour of the Professional Pickleball Association of America and MLB - the American professional pickleball league. According to Into Pickleball magazine, those involved in the sport aspire to develop it further, aiming for its inclusion in the official program of the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane, Australia.

Today, pickleball is played in more than 50 countries. The sport was introduced to Vietnam in 2018, primarily developing in TP HCM before expanding to Ha Noi, becoming popular about four years ago.

Hieu Luong