Pickleball Cook Islands continues to experience rapid growth. SUPPLIED/26101635
Pickleball Cook Islands is celebrating continued growth in the sport, with more players taking to the courts and record participation numbers for the upcoming Trader Jacks IV Pickleball League.
The fourth edition of the league held its seeding round last Monday, attracting 18 teams of three players each, with more than 60 participants competing this season.
For the first time, the competition will feature three divisions of six teams, along with a wild-card finals system.
Pickleball Cook Islands president Matty Beasley said it was exciting to see more people taking up the sport, including a growing number of new faces.
“Looking ahead, pickleball continues to experience rapid growth at the grassroots level here in the Cook Islands. The momentum behind the sport is truly unstoppable, and we look forward to continuing to grow and bring quality pickleball to our islands,” Beasley said.
The local growth follows a successful international campaign for Team Cook Islands at the Pickleball World Cup in Vietnam, where the team achieved a historic milestone by winning the country’s first-ever medals at an international pickleball event.
Pickleball Cook Islands secured three gold medals and one silver in the pre-tournament international competition, before competing against some of the world’s leading pickleball nations at the World Cup itself.
Beasley said the experience had provided valuable opportunities to develop the sport locally and establish pathways for Cook Islands players to compete overseas.
“This experience has been priceless in terms of helping us grow the sport back home at a grassroots level, as well as navigating player pathways and establishing valuable networks for sending local talent overseas to represent the Cook Islands in future tournaments,” he said.
Pickleball Cook Islands credited its sponsors, supporters and wider community for helping make the team’s international campaign possible.
Sponsors and supporters included Cook Islands Tourism, CIC Ocean Research, Destination Cook Islands, Cook Islands Distillery, Trader Jacks Rarotonga, Matysik & Marshall, Te Rito O Taku Peu Tupuna, The Cooks Oasis, Kora Pearls, Inu, General Transport, CISNOC and Te Moana.
The organisation also acknowledged community contributors Naomi Waka, Sharon Gregory, Mama Lin, Kylie and Manine, as well as Cook Islands coach Gary Cribb and the United States coaching team led by Adam Butler, alongside Brady, Dean and Cory.
“We also want to extend a huge meitaki ranuinui to the PCI committee and our extended community for countless volunteer hours spent organising and running training sessions and workshops leading up to the tournament preparing our athletes for success.”
Beasley said the support had helped the team represent the Cook Islands on the international stage while laying the groundwork for future competitions.
The Trader Jacks IV Pickleball League will start at 5pm on Monday at the TSA in Nikao.