Pickleball gets into Hong Kong mainstream as world’s top players, fans old and new gather

Loud cheers, thumping bass lines, flashing court lights, and the crisp pop of plastic paddles filled Kai Tak Arena on Sunday as Asia’s largest professional pickleball tournament reached a festive climax. Moving beyond the quiet formality of traditional court sports, finals day at the Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam 2026, which drew a crowd of more than 2,000 spectators, felt more like a block party than a high-stakes championship, bringing fans within arm’s reach of the world’s elite players. The...