Positive Energy from Pickleball

Although it has only appeared recently, the sport of pickleball is loved and practiced by many people. This new sport not only helps people entertain and develop physically but also contributes to promoting the movement of physical exercise in the community, bringing fresh colors to the sports picture of the province.

Fun, easy to play

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7 p.m., Mr. Ngo Anh Sang in Quarter 6, Ward 1, Dong Ha City, goes to the sports field in Vincom Shophouse Dong Ha to practice. For the past month, instead of playing tennis like before, he has become familiar with pickleball because he finds it a new but very interesting sport.

Pickleball is a fun, easy-to-play sport suitable for all ages - Photo: DC

Pickleball is a sport that originated in the United States. From 1990 to 2000, pickleball began to spread to neighboring countries with a series of international tournaments being held.

With the establishment of the World Pickleball Federation in 2018, pickleball is now one of the fastest growing sports in the world with 60 member federations. This sport was introduced to Vietnam in 2018 and began to be known by many people from around 2023.

In Quang Tri , pickleball is quite “hot” and has a fast coverage because this is a sport that is easily accessible to many ages. “In my opinion, the appeal of pickleball comes from many factors, in which the most special point is the combination of all 3 sports including badminton, table tennis, tennis with a fairly simple way of playing.

On the other hand, this sport has a slower speed than table tennis and badminton, suitable for both the elderly and children, so the whole family can play. For those who already know how to play sports such as table tennis and tennis, it only takes a short time to master the technique of pickleball. Currently, my wife and I are both practicing and adapting quite well to playing pickleball," said Mr. Sang.

Pickleball is a racket sport, so it requires specialized equipment such as a pickleball racket, pickleball ball and net. Both the racket and ball are quite light, suitable for everyone from children to the elderly.

Pickleball rackets are specially designed to provide balance and control to the player when hitting the ball. Pickleball does not require too much physical strength but focuses on the player's technique and flexibility and dexterity in the court space. The game starts with a cross-court serve and continues back and forth until one side cannot return the serve.

This sport is played on a hard court, 13 m long, 6.1 m wide; in the middle of the court there is a net about 0.86 m high. Pickleball also has a special area called the “kitchen” with dimensions of 2.1 m by 6.1 m. In terms of rules, pickleball has many similarities with tennis when the ball is served diagonally to the opponent's court. Points are scored when the opponent fails to return the ball or violates the rules of the game.

However, pickleball still has some interesting features such as: in the "kitchen" area of ​​the court, players will not be able to volley (hit the ball without touching the ground) immediately but must wait for the ball to bounce before hitting it to the opposite court.

Another new rule is that only the serving side can win a point. If the serving side fails to return the ball or makes a mistake, the opponent does not score a point but gets the right to serve again. Pickleball can be played in singles (one player per side) and doubles (two players per side).

Thanks to its interesting gameplay, suitable for many ages, this sport has become popular in Vietnam and is gradually becoming popular in Quang Tri. Ms. Truong Thi Thuy Tien, in Quarter 1, Ward 5, Dong Ha City, shared: “Recently, during a trip to Ho Chi Minh City, I was invited by many young people here who were excited about playing pickleball to try it out.

As a badminton coach, I got into the game quite quickly and found pickleball to have many advantages and appeal. It does not require high-intensity exercise, pickleball is quite gentle on the player's body; some people who have problems with vigorous exercise can practice pickleball while still ensuring the health of their muscles and joints.

Returning to Quang Tri, I inspired my friends at the badminton club to play pickleball, then invited a few people to practice together. I will improve my skills and participate in intensive training to spread the spirit of practicing this sport to those around me."

Many benefits for health and spirit

Not only is it a fun game, pickleball conquers sports lovers because it has many health benefits and positive effects on the whole body.

According to many studies, playing pickleball can reduce depression levels, improve concentration and cognition, and train agility and flexibility from coordinating full-body movements. Playing pickleball also helps increase muscle strength and improve weight, while providing cardiovascular benefits thanks to the moderate but continuous exercise intensity throughout the game.

Middle-aged adults will burn 40% more calories in 30 minutes of playing pickleball than 30 minutes of walking. In addition, being able to play on an outdoor court provides comfort and relaxation for pickleball practitioners.

Mr. Tran Nguyen Phuoc is one of the first people in Quang Tri to practice and compete in pickleball - Photo: DC

Ms. Tran Thi Thuy Dung, owner of Quyen Hong Sport sports shop in Dong Ha city, said: “At the end of 2023, through the shop's agents and partner companies, I learned that the pickleball movement was developing quite strongly in many provinces and cities across the country. After learning through many channels, I tried this sport. Initially, I and a badminton coach learned and practiced pickleball techniques, then lowered the badminton net and redesigned the court to play. In early 2024, I bought pickleball rackets and balls for my children and many family members to practice together. Although I have only been practicing officially for a short time, I personally find that pickleball is a sport that brings a lot of positive energy. Pickleball trains players to be patient, flexible and skillful, thereby helping me improve my health. Practicing and playing pickleball outdoors after a stressful day at work gives my family relaxing moments.”

Through her own experience, Ms. Dung has imported to the store many types of practice rackets, pickleball competition rackets with prices ranging from 300 thousand to several million VND for players to choose from. Currently, Quyen Hong sports shop has a full range of tools, rackets, and specialized balls to serve pickleball lovers.

As one of the first people in Quang Tri to practice and compete in pickleball, Mr. Tran Nguyen Phuoc in Quarter 2, Ward 5, Dong Ha City, clearly felt the benefits and positive energy that this new sport brings. In April 2024, Mr. Phuoc decided to open a basic pickleball class in Dong Ha City.

Up to now, the number of young people who love pickleball and want to practice contact him quite a lot. Not only seriously practicing and teaching, Mr. Phuoc also registered and participated in many pickleball tournaments, notably the International Pickleball Community Cup VTV8 - La Queenara 2024 held in Quang Nam.

For him, the tournament was a great experience that helped him gain more skills in practicing and competing in pickleball more proficiently and professionally. Mr. Phuoc said: “I am currently teaching basic pickleball to about 14 students, divided into two classes. Students of all ages, including 7-10 year old students, are also very excited and interested in pickleball.

In the near future, I will attend a pickleball coaching training course in Hanoi, then continue to make efforts to contribute to the development of the pickleball training and competition movement in the area by opening more teaching classes. In August, I will establish the Dong Ha City Pickleball Club with an expected number of 15-20 members, helping the pickleball movement to spread more and more widely throughout the province."

Hoai Diem Chi

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/nang-luong-tich-cuc-tu-pickleball-186885.htm