Vave Singapore launched in Penang with the first Pickleball “Playcation” sports event on 30 and 31 January 2026, introducing a tournament format that combines competitive play with travel and family participation.
The event, organised by Singapore-based Sports League, took place at Pickleland, D’Plazza Mall in Bayan Baru. It featured 13 regional teams and marked Vave’s debut in Penang.
The Pickleball Playcation was designed as a fully curated family sports vacation. It went beyond being just a tournament. Participants enjoyed a complete package that included local sightseeing tours around Penang, hotel accommodation, local transport, tournament entry, exclusive T-shirts and goodie bags.
By blending competitive play with family-friendly travel and social engagement, the Pickleball Playcation reflects a growing trend in sports tourism across Asia. Organisers believe such events can strengthen Penang’s position as a host city for lifestyle-oriented sports events, while showcasing Malaysia’s readiness to support international pickleball competitions.
“This Playcation approach is designed to appeal to families, amateur athletes, and sports enthusiasts seeking an engaging and memorable travel experience in Penang while enjoying the excitement of competitive pickleball,” said Benny Gan from Vave.
The event coincided with Visit Malaysia 2026, a national tourism campaign to attract international visitors with diverse cultural experiences. The campaign focuses on family-friendly travel, sustainability and showcasing Malaysia’s unique heritage.
After two days of exciting and competitive matches, the Pickleball Playcation wrapped up on a high note. Team KiamChaiBoey emerged as Tournament Champion, taking home RM3,000 in cash and the trophy. Dink To Happiness finished as Runner-Up, winning RM2,000 and a trophy. Team Corona Sports and Ipoh Mali shared the Second Runner-Up title, each receiving RM1,000 and a medal.
The evening celebration brought all participants together for a Gala and prize presentation night. Teams and families reveled the whole night, celebrating not just the competitive achievements but also the bonds formed during the event. The Gala provided a platform for players to socialise, share their experiences and build lasting connections within the pickleball community. It was a fitting conclusion to the competitive portion of the event, bringing together the spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie that defined the Playcation.
All winning teams were recognised not only for their strong performances on court but also for their sportsmanship. This underscored the Playcation’s spirit of competitive excellence within a warm, community-driven and family-friendly environment.
The final day was dedicated to exploring Penang’s attractions. Participants spent the day touring popular destinations across the island, immersing themselves in the local culture and experiencing what makes Penang a unique travel destination. This allowed families to create memories beyond the tournament, reinforcing the Playcation concept of blending competitive sports with meaningful travel experiences.
The top four teams from the Penang event earned automatic qualification into the main draw of the International Champions League. This will take place in Singapore on 28 February and 1 March 2026, continuing the expansion of this family-focused sports travel concept across the region.
The event also marked the introduction of Vave, a mobile app and tournament management platform developed to support regional competitions, family-oriented sports travel and community events across Asia. The system allows participants to register for events, track match results, view rankings and maintain match history through a single integrated platform. It professionalises amateur sports experiences while keeping them accessible and community-friendly.
Varad Kumaravelu, Founder of Vave, added: “The Vave app is designed to serve regional tournaments, multiple sports and family-friendly competitions by managing regional matches across different sports, tracking results and providing a seamless experience for players and families alike. It’s built to make amateur sports more accessible, connected, and fun, no matter the sport.”
Alongside the Pickleball Playcation, Vave also supported a table tennis tournament at the Penang Table Tennis Center from 31 January to 1 February 2026. This demonstrated the platform’s versatility across different sports events.
Vave is a mobile app and tournament management platform that connects sports communities and supports regional competitions across multiple sports. The platform powers Playcations, which are sports events that combine competitive play with travel and family-friendly experiences in destinations such as Penang, Bali, Goa and Europe.
Vave is developed by Sports League, a company founded in 2020 with the belief that competitive sports should be accessible, exciting and inclusive for everyone. Sports League aims to grow the amateur sports ecosystem one match, one story and one player at a time.
