By Anne Das
From its base in Ipoh, 002 Pickleball Club & Academy has been part of a growing sporting community that is helping players see pickleball as more than a recreational game.
The academy is now celebrating a major breakthrough for the sport after Choo Lyn Yuen won silver in the Pro Women’s Doubles at the PPA Challenger in Colorado, USA, with partner Natalie Hur.
The achievement is being described as Malaysia’s first Pro Division medal in a PPA tournament, marking an important step for a sport that continues to gain followers across the country.
For 002 Pickleball Club & Academy, the story carries a strong local connection. Lyn Yuen is not from Ipoh, but the academy has been among those championing the growth of pickleball from Perak and encouraging players to think beyond local competition.
Her result offers exactly the kind of example it hopes young athletes will see and believe in.
The academy said Lyn Yuen’s journey is meaningful not only because of the medal, but because of the discipline behind it. She represents a generation of athletes who are determined to balance education, personal development and high-performance sport.
That balance makes the win especially powerful for young women watching from home. Her progress shows that sporting ambition can begin anywhere, but it needs commitment, exposure and a support system willing to stay the course.
At a time when pickleball is gaining attention in schools, clubs and community courts, her success gives the sport a sharper sense of possibility. It also gives coaches, parents and young players a real example of how far structured training and international exposure can take an athlete.
002 Pickleball Club & Academy said every sport needs pioneers, and Lyn Yuen has the chance to inspire a new wave of players who may now see the professional stage as something within reach.
The result also brings attention to the role of sponsorship. Overseas tournaments require financial backing, travel support and long-term planning. According to the academy, the medal campaign was supported through contributions from Ipoh-based developer KLK Land.
The academy hopes this achievement will encourage more corporate partners and supporters to come forward, especially those who want to help promising players compete internationally while returning to Malaysia and Asia to share their experience with the next generation.
For the Ipoh academy, the silver medal is not being viewed as a final destination. It is a beginning, and a sign that the sport can grow further with the right structure and belief.
Lyn Yuen’s success has given pickleball a proud sporting moment. For 002 Pickleball Club & Academy, it is also a reminder that the work being done in local courts can still connect to something much bigger.
