Pickleball, new sport in Nha Trang

Pickleball, a very popular sport in the US and a favorite sport in the world, has only been introduced to Vietnam for about 2 years and become a favorite one of many people. Pickleball, with its relatively simple equipment and rules, has appeared in Nha Trang City

A doubles match of pickleball

Pickleball was invented on Bainbridge Island, Washington (USA) in 1965, combining the elements of table-tennis, badminton and tennis. Pickleball has evolved from a sport played within a family in the US into a popular sport throughout the world. According to the latest statistics, currently, there are more than 4.8 million people in the US playing this sport. Pickleball was introduced into Vietnam a few years ago but has attracted a lot of players, especially in big cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. 

Pickleball can be played on concrete courts and courts covered by wood floor mats or specialized mats. The pickleball court has a smaller area than badminton and tennis courts. The equipment includes paddles ranging in price from a few hundred to less than VND2 million and plastic balls with holes costing around tens of thousands dong. Pickleball techniques and rules are relatively easy compared to the ones of table-tennis and badminton. Badminton matches are played by two opposing players (singles) or two pairs of players (doubles). A normal set has 11 points; only the serving player or team is able to score a point.

A singles match

At the present, there are around nearly 20 people playing pickleball at the Provincial Sports Technique Training Center, including the center’s athletes and coaches and some people from outside who love this sport. Many staff and lectures of Khanh Hoa University are also actively practicing pickleball at the sports arena of the university. “Pickleball is a gentle sport, which is appropriate for everybody. I hope that more people in Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa will be introduced to pickleball and play this sport and that pickleball movement will develop strongly,” said Huynh Thi Thuy Uyen, lecturer at Khanh Hoa University.

An Nhien
Translated by H.N