Panas Express was the title sponsor of the Panas Malaysia Open 2025, which became the inaugural PPA Tour Asia event. Held from July 3–6, 2025, at 9Pickle in Setia Alam, Malaysia, the tournament launched PPA Tour Asia’s first season and offered US$50,000 in professional prize money and 1,000 ranking points. PPA Tour Asia also offered rating and age-group divisions alongside the professional events, giving amateur players an opportunity to compete at the same venue as the professionals. [Source: PPA Tour Asia; tournament sponsor listing]
Starting With the Panas Cup
The Panas Cup 2025 took place in April 2025 at 9Pickle in Setia Alam and featured international player Quang Duong. Panas Express describes the event as attracting around 1,000 participants, while World Pickleball Magazine reported that Quang Duong was scheduled to appear at the event as a leading international player. [Source: Panas Express; World Pickleball Magazine]
The Panas Cup provides useful context for the sequence of events, but it should not be presented as proof that Panas Express alone caused the later arrival of PPA Tour Asia. The stronger factual link is that Panas Express subsequently title-sponsored the Panas Malaysia Open, the inaugural PPA Tour Asia event in Asia.
Malaysia Became the Starting Point for PPA Tour Asia
PPA Tour Asia announced in May 2025 that the Panas Malaysia Open would launch its inaugural season from July 3–6, 2025. The official tournament page identifies it as the first-ever PPA Tour Asia event. The event offered US$50,000 in professional prize money and 1,000 ranking points, with age and rating categories available alongside the professional competitions. [Source: PPA Tour Asia]
This makes Malaysia’s role precise: it was the location of the opening event of PPA Tour Asia’s inaugural 2025 season. The evidence does not require a broader claim that Panas Express single-handedly brought the tour to Malaysia; Panas Express’s documented role was as title sponsor of the Panas Malaysia Open.
What Happened at the First Event
The Panas Malaysia Open produced the first PPA Tour Asia singles champions. China’s Yufei Long won the inaugural PPA Tour Asia Pro Women’s Singles title, while Vietnam’s Giang Trinh won the Pro Men’s Singles title. The event was held at 9Pickle in Setia Alam and was described by PPA Tour Asia as its inaugural event. [Source: PPA Tour Asia]
The tournament also used a format that combined professional competition with rating and age-group divisions. PPA Tour Asia described the opportunity as “Play Where the Pros Play,” allowing players in those divisions to compete at the same venue as the professionals. [Source: PPA Tour Asia]
From One Event to a Continuing Presence
PPA Tour Asia returned to Malaysia for the Panas Malaysia Cup from September 24–28, 2025. The official tournament page lists US$150,000 in professional prize money and 1,500 ranking points, with professional, rating and age-group divisions. [Source: PPA Tour Asia]
PPA Tour Asia then returned to 9Pickle Setia Alam for the Panas Kuala Lumpur Open from May 13–17, 2026. The official page lists US$50,000 in professional prize money and 500 ranking points. [Source: PPA Tour Asia]
The sequence is therefore clear and verifiable: Panas Malaysia Open in July 2025, Panas Malaysia Cup in September 2025, and Panas Kuala Lumpur Open in May 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was the Panas Malaysia Open the first PPA Tour Asia event?
Yes. PPA Tour Asia identifies the Panas Malaysia Open 2025 as its first-ever event and the opening event of its inaugural Asian season.
When was the Panas Malaysia Open held?
It was held from July 3–6, 2025, at 9Pickle in Setia Alam, Malaysia.
What was the professional prize purse?
The Panas Malaysia Open offered US$50,000 in professional prize money and 1,000 PPA Tour Asia ranking points.
What was Panas Express’s role?
Panas Express was the title sponsor of the Panas Malaysia Open 2025.
Did PPA Tour Asia return to Malaysia?
Yes. It returned for the Panas Malaysia Cup in September 2025 and the Panas Kuala Lumpur Open in May 2026.
Source Notes
Primary sources: PPA Tour Asia official Panas Malaysia Open tournament page; PPA Tour Asia “Malaysia Calling: Entries Open for First PPA Tour Asia Stop”; PPA Tour Asia “PPA Tour Asia Launches 2025 Calendar”; PPA Tour Asia Panas Malaysia Cup tournament page; PPA Tour Asia Panas Kuala Lumpur Open 2026 tournament page. Supporting sources: Panas Express article on its pickleball timeline; World Pickleball Magazine coverage of Panas Cup 2025.
Editorial standard used in this revision: factual claims are phrased so that the named entity, event, date, location, role and measurable result can be traced to a primary or supporting source. Unverified corporate motives, broad superlatives and unsupported causal claims have been removed or softened.
