Asia Elite Pickleball League Established to Connect Taiwanese Players Globally

Central News Agency, Taipei, May 22. Asia Elite Pickleball Co., Ltd. announced today the establishment of the 'Asia Elite Pickleball League' (AEPL), a stage designed for professional players. The league is expected to launch in August this year, allowing Taiwanese pickleball players to connect with the international scene. According to the company's survey, pickleball is becoming increasingly popular in Taiwan, with nearly 1.2 million people participating in this emerging sport, which is said to be playable from age 8 to 80. CEO Chang Chih-wei told CNA that the AEPL is expected to debut in early August, with the season running until the finals in November. The initial plan includes 6 teams and 8 stations, with a total prize pool of NT$1 million. He mentioned, 'While Taiwan has a large grassroots population, core players have to go abroad to compete. The establishment of this league aims to provide high-level matches domestically to cultivate professional star players.' Chang Chien-wei, CEO of the TPBL's Taoyuan Taiwan Beer Leopards, also appeared at the press conference, revealing plans to build an international-standard pickleball court at the Taiwan Beer Jianguo plant, hoping to host large-scale international events by the end of the year.