Kinh te and Do thi Pickleball Cup closes with successes

After two days of competition, the “Kinh te & Do thi Pickleball Cup – 2025” successfully concluded with exciting, fair-play, and professional matches, paving the way for future tournaments. 

Held by the Kinh te & Do thi (Economic and Urban) Newspaper/The Hanoi Times in collaboration with the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, the event featured over 400 matches across 10 competition categories, offering an attractive prize structure.

The Organizing Committee awarded first, second, and joint third-place prizes to outstanding athletes, with a total prize pool exceeding VND200 million (US$7,800).

Meanwhile, extensive media coverage ensured the tournament’s visibility, with updates published across various platforms, including Kinh te & Do thi Newspaper’s ecosystem of nine publications.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thanh Loi, Editor-in-Chief of the Kinh te & Do thi Newspaper and Head of the Organizing Committee, highlighted the tournament’s success, attributing it to the collaboration of local authorities, sports federations, businesses, and dedicated athletes.

The tournament’s success provided a valuable platform for pickleball athletes nationwide while promoting Kinh te & Do thi Newspaper’s role in supporting Hanoi’s cultural and sports development.

Women’s Doubles Open champion Vu Thi Huong Lan in Long Bien District said that as a pickleball enthusiast for over two years, she valued the tournament’s role in connecting the community and praised the high-level competition, especially in open categories. She also highlighted the professionalism and fairness of the refereeing as key to the event’s success.

Impressive tournament

At the tournament, many participants praised the Organizing Committee's effective organization.

Professional pickleball player Tran Anh Tu, representing the People’s Public Security team in the Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles categories, said: “At the ‘Kinh te & Do thi Pickleball Cup – 2025’, I encountered many strong professional athletes competing in Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles. This presented a tough challenge for me and my partner as we strived for the championship.”

Tran Anh Tu, who is the champion of both the Men's Doubles Open and Mixed Doubles Open categories, said the tournament showcased top-tier athletes. With the right strategy, he overcame challenges to win. It was an emotional event that fostered connection, learning, and sportsmanship.

Nguyen Hong Hanh, a competitor in the Mixed Doubles (Amateur, over 35) category, expressed his excitement: “After six months of training, this is my first tournament experience, and I am truly overwhelmed by the vibrant atmosphere, enthusiastic support, and meticulous organization. My goal is to gain experience and learn from others.”

The “Kinh te & Do thi Pickleball Cup – 2025” gathered amateur events taking center stage on March 15 and open ones on March 16. The tournament had a lively and engaging atmosphere. On the court, athletes displayed determination and delivered spectacular rallies, accompanied by friendly handshakes and paddle taps. Meanwhile, in the stands, passionate spectators cheered enthusiastically, adding to the excitement of the matches.

Competing alongside his wife in the Mixed Doubles (over 35) category, Nguyen Trung Kien shared: “I have participated in several amateur tournaments in Hanoi, but I am especially impressed with the tournament. The high-quality event was well-structured and attracted a large number of spectators. This is a fantastic platform for pickleball players in Hanoi and across the country.”

 The tournament provided a valuable opportunity for pickleball enthusiasts to compete, share their passion, and connect with fellow fans of this emerging sport. Additionally, it promoted physical fitness and overall well-being while contributing to the broader development of pickleball and sports culture in Vietnam.

Athlete Do Thi Nam, who competed in the Women’s Doubles (Amateur, over 35), praised the tournament’s organization: “Today, we played four matches from the group stage to the final. The Organizing Committee did an excellent job in categorizing players by skill level. Right from the qualifiers, they filtered out participants who didn’t meet the amateur level or age requirements, ensuring fair competition.”

She said this allowed everyone to compete on an even playing field and enjoy quality matches. If skill levels were mismatched, it would have been much harder to compete. “We truly appreciate the high-quality organization of this tournament.”

Athletes also commended the referee team and the Organizing Committee’s efforts to ensure players’ well-being. Nguyen Van, who participated in the Women’s Singles (under 35), noted: “The referees were highly professional and made accurate calls.”

Sharing the same idea, Nguyen Trung Kien said the court conditions were excellent and the referees were experienced professionals from national-level tournaments, providing a great sense of security for all players.

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Ha, a competitor in the Women’s Doubles (under 35), emphasized the event’s thoughtful organization: “I appreciate how the Organizing Committee cared for the participants, providing food, drinks, and professional refereeing.”

The success of the “Kinh te & Do thi Pickleball Cup – 2025” demonstrates the sport’s growing popularity and the potential for bigger and better tournaments in the future.