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Patrick Ares Mendoza of the Philippines claimed the Men's Singles Open title at Paramount Cup 2026, defeating Australia's Kyle Stoker 11-8, 11-8 at PLAYA Racquet Club, PARC Subang.
The victory marked an opening highlight for the second edition of the international pickleball tournament, which attracted more than 1,000 entries from 18 countries and featured an expanded programme of competitive matches, junior categories and family-friendly festival activities.
Held until 25 October 2026, Paramount Cup brought together international and local pickleball players while offering visitors a weekend of sports, creative workshops, food and community activities in Subang.
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Paramount Cup 2026 Attracts Players from 18 Countries
Building on its inaugural edition, Paramount Cup 2026 welcomed a larger international field, with participants from the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia, India, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom and Malaysia, among other countries.
Among the confirmed players were Kyle Stoker, Vanshik Kapadia, Roman Estareja, Connie Na Eun Lee, Anna Clarice Patrimonio and Mihika Yadav.
The tournament also served as an APP Asia Qualifier and was overseen by Australian tournament director Matthew "Matt" Hort, who has experience managing pickleball competitions across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.
Beh Chun Chong, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer of Paramount Corporation Berhad, highlighted how the tournament has grown beyond sporting competition to become a platform for community engagement.
"It is encouraging to see how Paramount Cup has grown in just two years, attracting players from 18 countries while creating more opportunities for young talent to compete. Beyond the sporting competition, what matters to us is the way this event brings people together.
"As the People's Developer, we believe that great places are defined by what we build and how the spaces nurture communities and create shared experiences. Paramount Cup is one way we bring this philosophy to life, enriching the communities around us," he said.
Eight Junior Categories Introduced at Paramount Cup 2026
One of the major additions to this year's tournament was the introduction of eight junior categories across the Under-10, Under-12, Under-14 and Under-16 age groups.
Held on Saturday, 24 October, the junior singles matches were scheduled from 9.00am to 12.20pm, followed by the junior doubles competitions from 1.00pm to 4.20pm.
The expanded junior programme provided younger players with opportunities to compete in a tournament setting while allowing families and spectators to support emerging pickleball talent.
The evening programme featured the 19+ Men's Doubles Open and 19+ Women's Doubles Open, both beginning at 5.00pm. The women's competition was scheduled to conclude at 8.40pm, while the men's competition continued until 9.40pm.
On Sunday, 25 October, the tournament featured mixed doubles competitions across five divisions, beginning at 8.00am.
The 19+ Mixed Doubles Open and 35+ Mixed Doubles Open were among the final day's highlights, with both categories scheduled from 5.00pm to 8.20pm.
Paramount Cup Festival Brings Family Activities to PARC Subang
Beyond the pickleball courts, the Paramount Cup Festival transformed PLAYA Racquet Club and The Hall at PARC Subang into a weekend destination for families and visitors.
Held on 24 and 25 October, the festival featured food stalls, artisan products, creative activities and hands-on workshops, giving visitors opportunities to explore the venue between tournament matches.
Five free workshops were included in the festival programme, covering sustainability, arts and crafts, and sensory activities.
- Trash to Treasure Soap Making Workshop by So Hand Made, introducing creative ways to repurpose materials.
- Used Coffee Ground Handmade Soap Workshop by Terra Green Malaysia, focusing on turning used coffee grounds into handmade soap.
- Smash & Create: Pickleball Wooden Robot Charm Workshop by Ko.Mo.Re, combining creativity with a pickleball-inspired craft activity.
- Magnet-Making Workshop by Timeless Magmories, allowing participants to create personalised magnets.
- Interactive Sensory Play Lab by Wonderplay, offering an activity designed for younger visitors and families.
Additional activities included DIY craft kits, beading supplies, stickers and activity books from d' Alphabet, slime-making sessions and DIY Slime Boxes from ER Slime, and squishies and toys from Kedai Thia.
The festival complemented the tournament by providing activities for visitors of different ages, including those who were not participating in the pickleball competitions.
Paramount Cup Supports SHELTER Home for Children
Paramount Cup 2026 also incorporated a charitable initiative benefiting SHELTER Home for Children, an organisation supporting children who have experienced abuse, neglect or abandonment.
For every tournament registration, PLAYA committed to donating RM5, with Paramount Property matching the contribution with another RM5.
This brought the total charitable contribution to RM10 per registration, with the funds intended to support SHELTER's work in providing food, safe accommodation, education, daily care and counselling.
Through this initiative, Paramount Cup connected sporting participation with community support, extending the event's contribution beyond the tournament itself.
More Than Just a Pickleball Tournament
With an expanded international field, additional junior categories and a weekend festival, Paramount Cup 2026 demonstrated how a sporting tournament can also bring together families, local businesses and the wider community.
The event combined competitive pickleball with recreational activities, creative experiences and charitable contributions, reflecting Paramount's broader emphasis on creating spaces that encourage community interaction.
As pickleball continues to attract interest among Malaysians, tournaments such as Paramount Cup provide opportunities for players to compete, young athletes to gain experience and spectators to discover the sport in an accessible community setting.
