HEADLINE:
Da Nang set a new attendance record, 7,906 at Tien Son Sports Arena on Championship Saturday. Guinness certified it on site.
Context matters. Large blocks of free admission drove the headcount, which is why coverage called the framing promotional.
WEEKEND RESULTS
MB VIETNAM CUP
Sep 30–Oct 4 | Da Nang, Vietnam
MEN’S SINGLE:
Phuc Huynh def. Hien Truong
11-1, 11-4
WOMEN’S SINGLE:
Sahra Dennehy def. Liz Truluck
11-5, 11-7
MEN’S DOUBLES:
Tyson McGuffin / Eric Oncins def. Zane Navratil / Armaan Bhatia
5-11, 11-9, 11-0
WOMEN’S DOUBLES:
Kaitlyn Christian / Chao Yi “Zoey” Wang def. Alix Truong / Ting Chieh Wei
11-8, 11-8
MIXED DOUBLES:
Jonathan Truong / Alix Truong def. Tyson McGuffin / Chao Yi “Zoey” Wang
11-1, 11-6
SCALE: 566 players competed across divisions. Record announcement came at the closing ceremony by Guinness adjudicator Austin Johnson.
WEEKEND RESULTS
PANAS MALAYSIA CUP
Sep 24-28 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Ten-minute delay in the men’s doubles final was due to sweat pooling on court in heavy humidity. Staff stopped play to towel the surface.
Notable upset: Marco Leung beat No. 2 seed Grayson Goldin in R16 singles, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9.
Five U.S.-based APP regulars were waitlisted and never placed into qualifying: Bobbi Oshiro, Yana Newell, Max “Purple Jesus” Manthou, Jack Foster, Amanda Hendry. Their planned events and partners were listed but they did not make draws.
WOMEN’S SINGLES:
Kaitlyn Christian - Gold
MEN’S SINGLES:
Christian Alshon - Gold
MEN’S DOUBLES:
Tyson McGuffin /
Eric Oncins - Gold
WOMEN’S DOUBLES:
Kaitlyn Christian / Chao Yi “Zoey” Wang - Gold
MIXED DOUBLES:
Anna Bright /
Ben Johns - Gold
WEEKEND RESULTS
INDIA
Vanshik Kapadia
Multiple-medal haul at the Panas Malaysia Open in July, plus podiums around the region; rising doubles threat.
Harsh Mehta
“The Wall,” elite defense, table-tennis-influenced backhand punch. Strong doubles and mixed results across Asia.
Armaan Bhatia
First Indian to sign with both the PPA Tour and MLP; also reached the Vietnam men’s doubles final with Zane Navratil after a semifinal win over Ben Johns / Dekel Bar.
HUMAN INTEREST
India, Aarish Aga Choubey, 13, took double gold at the 9th AIPA Nationals in Jammu, winning U-14 singles and U-14 doubles with Debashish Manjhi. Times of India covered the run, including semifinal and final scorelines, and the “first-ever” national gold for Chhattisgarh.
ASIA PULSE
FACILITIES & GROWTH
Singapore, Jurong Play Grounds:
largest outdoor setup today with 10 courts, Straits Pickle Club operating on site. Public pricing from SGD 22 off-peak, SGD 32 peak.
Taiwan, New Taipei:
Eight-court riverside complex opened inside New Taipei Metropolitan Park. Launched by Mayor Hou Yu-ih.
Japan:
The Picklr signed a master franchise, plan is 20 indoor clubs over five years, first in Tokyo metro.
Thailand, Bangkok:
Goodland “Superclub” slated with six courts, lounge, recovery, and bar.
WHAT’S AHEAD
Singapore, PickleSprout at Jurong:
Runs Oct 4–11, beginner-focused brackets, SPA-sanctioned, DUPR logged
India, Mumbai Masters Cup, Edition 3:
Oct 12, Maniac X Pickle Pro Arena, Bandra West
Malaysia, Subang Women’s Doubles Mini-Tourney:
Oct 11, PickleAce, 8 p.m. to midnight, novice DUPR cap
NUMBERS TO KNOW
7,906, new Guinness attendance record, Da Nang, Oct 4. Prior mark was 5,522.
566, total Vietnam Cup participants across divisions.
10 minutes, stoppage in the Malaysia men’s doubles final to dry sweat on court.
ROB’S TAKE:
Full house is a win.
Free seats and a Guinness ref juiced it.
Celebrate the show and keep the demand story honest.
