Chonburi: The Sports Authority of Thailand has officially recognized pickleball as a registered sport, a milestone warmly welcomed by Taya Teepsuwan, president of the Thailand Pickleball Championship and former deputy governor of Bangkok. She expressed gratitude towards Dr. Kongsak Yodmanee, governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), and the executive committee for their decision, marking a promising development for pickleball enthusiasts throughout the country.

According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Teepsuwan intends to proceed with the registration process to establish the Pickleball Association of Thailand. This initiative aims to provide access to alternative sports for people of all ages. The Thailand Pickleball Championship, a key proponent in this recognition effort, is set to submit the necessary paperwork to finalize the establishment of the association once the certification process is complete. A dedicated team, including individuals from various sectors, is supporting this initiative. Among them are Sareerat Prapakkham, Kattaleeya McIntosh, and Thanarak Thanantmanee, among others.

Ms. Taya highlighted the association’s goal to develop a robust system to support pickleball athletes, enabling them to aspire to represent Thailand at the national level and in future international competitions. This development follows a recent event where Ms. Taya and her team hosted Dr. Kongsak Yodmanee at the MLAB Thailand Pickleball Championship 2025 held at the Rugby School in Chonburi Province. The tournament, acclaimed as the largest in Thailand, featured 16 concurrent playing fields and participants from over 15 countries.