If all goes well, Cagayan de Oro City may play host to the first-ever Pickleball Tournament in in 2023, according to Pastor Junnie Ree Pagunsan, Senior Pastor of Far West End SDA Church during his visit to City Mayor Rolando "Klarex" Uy on Tuesday, September 20, 2022.

 

According to Pastor Pagunsan, the University of Science and Technology of the Philippines (USTP) is one of the 32 schools in the country that will be opening a Pickleball program.

 

"Some of the schools... USTP, Central Mindanao University, Bukidnon State University, nag- open na sila’g Pickleball program. According to them, they are going to host the first Pickleball tournament in Cagayan de Oro," Pastor Pagunsan said.

 

Pickleball, invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, is a sport that combines several elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. It can be played indoors or outdoors on a badminton-sized court and a slightly modified tennis net. It is played with a paddle and a plastic ball with holes.

 

Pickleball is currently exploding in popularity worldwide, with several new international clubs forming and national governing bodied now established on multiple continents. (JAS-CIO/Photos by Aicy Soriano-CMO)