Hong Kong Wins Silver at the 2025 Pickleball World Cup

In an extraordinary display of skill and determination, Hong Kong’s national pickleball team has brought home the silver medal from the 2025 Pickleball World Cup held in Florida, USA, on November 3, 2025.

Against the odds, the Hong Kong team fought their way through top-seeded opponents to reach the finals, where they faced the powerhouse Team USA. Although USA ultimately claimed gold, Hong Kong’s performance was nothing short of historic—brilliant, composed, and fearless.

The Origins Of Pickleball

Pickleball was born in 1965 in Bainbridge Island, Washington, when three families improvised a new game one summer afternoon. Combining elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, the sport grew rapidly through community play before professional circuits and international championships were established in the 21st century.

Today, the USA boasts around 40 million active pickleball players—the highest number in the world. Hong Kong, by comparison, has an estimated 8,000 active participants. Yet when analysing Hong Kong’s statistical performance per player base, their achievement easily ranks among the world’s most efficient and competitive teams.

Team Hong Kong – A United Front

Hong Kong’s squad was a collaborative effort among some of the city’s leading clubs, including LIT TLP, Ace, and Stackd. LIT TLP, TGG Group's branch, stood out as the strongest contributor, fielding six players and providing the team’s newly signed professional, Ryan Lam, as captain.

Lam’s leadership and composure have been instrumental to the team’s success. Under his direction, Hong Kong maintained calm, clinical precision through every rally—proof of the benefits of going pro and raising training standards to international benchmarks.

The Business Of Pickleball – A Global Opportunity

This year’s World Cup saw participation from 68 nations and gathered an estimated one million global viewers across live streaming and broadcast platforms. The economic potential behind such viewership is significant.

Using conservative benchmarks from U.S. professional sports, particularly the NBA, the implications are clear. A typical NBA team today holds a valuation averaging USD 3.8 billion, with roughly 30 teams across a domestic fan base of 150 million. If we scale proportionally based on pickleball’s 40 million active players in the US, industry experts estimate that professional pickleball clubs could eventually achieve valuations in the range of USD 50 - 150 million per club.

Endorsement opportunities follow accordingly. Top-tier pickleball athletes could attract annual sponsorships between USD 250,000 to 500,000 as brand ambassadors—especially those in regions like Hong Kong, where viewership growth rates are projected to double year on year. For pioneering clubs like LIT TLP, that translates into substantial commercial potential and investor interest.

A Sport Reimagined - and a City United

This silver medal marks a turning point. Hong Kong’s triumph signals that elite-level pickleball is no longer confined to North America. It shows that professionalism, structured training, and visionary leadership can close the competitive gap between mature and emerging markets.

For Hong Kong, it is not just about silver—it is about pride, momentum, and belief. The team’s performance will inspire thousands of new players, attract international sponsors, and place the city firmly on the global sporting map.

We are witnessing the birth of something revolutionary—for Hong Kong, for athletes, and for the world of sport.

For Hong Kong. For the sport. For the future.