Yong and Tran Claim Singles Gold as PPA Asia 125 Takes Off in Singapore
| April 13, 2026
The PPA Asia 125 is officially underway.
PickleSlam 2026, hosted by PickleGO at Singapore’s Jurong Play Grounds, served as the inaugural stop of the new series — and it delivered. Across five pro events contested over two days, players from across the region battled for PPA ranking points, prize money, and a ticket to the next level.
The headline? All five champions earned a slot at the Singapore Open, a PPA Asia 500 stop taking place at the Sports Arina @ Expo from July 23–26.
Yong Rallies From Behind for Men’s Singles Gold
Singapore’s Charles Yong delivered the moment of the weekend in the Pro Men’s Singles final, coming from behind to beat Malaysia’s Timothy Foo 15-13 in a first-to-15 thriller. Trailing 9-5 and then 13-10, Yong rattled off five straight points to seal it. The 19-year-old national serviceman — who first picked up a paddle three years ago — now has the biggest title of his career and a slot at the Singapore Open. Malaysia’s Shahmirzzy Kelvin took the bronze.
Tran Completes the Comeback in Women’s Singles
Vietnam’s Sophia Tran mirrored the drama in the Pro Women’s Singles final, surging to a 7-0 lead against Chinese Taipei’s Lai Pei-Yu before watching her opponent claw back to lead 12-11. Tran steadied and closed it out 15-13. The 18-year-old former tennis player is now headed to the Singapore Open. Japan’s Seina Shima earned the bronze.
Pro Women’s Singles medalists Seina Shima (left), Sophia Tran (middle), Lai Pei-Yu (right). (Credit: PickleGo)
Doubles and Mixed Doubles
In Pro Men’s Doubles, Nicholas Maleganeas and GuangSian Lin took gold over Ken Unique Dela Cruz and Johnny Arcilla, with Khoa Vo and Timothy Foo rounding out the podium.
KaiFen Yi and TingWen Wang claimed the Pro Women’s Doubles title, getting the better of Lai Pei-yu and Sophia Tran in the final standings, while Amanda Teo and Zermaine Lew picked up the bronze.
Wang then doubled up in Pro Mixed Doubles, pairing with Dustin Wang to take gold. Sieu Ee Toi and Shahmirzzy Kelvin earned silver, with KaiFen Yi and GuangSian Lin taking bronze.
What is PPA Asia 125?
PPA Asia 125 is a new tournament series running alongside PPA Tour Asia, designed as a pathway for emerging talent to compete at elite level. Players earn up to 125 PPA ranking points per event, with a minimum of US$10,000 in prize money at each stop. Single-day formats keep the competition sharp and accessible, while players ranked in the Top 20 on the PPA Rankings are ineligible — ensuring the series creates genuine opportunities for the next generation.
Champions don’t just walk away with points and prize money. They earn direct entry into the next PPA Asia 500 event — putting them across the net against the best players in Asia and the world.
