Bundaberg Tennis Club joins push for pickleball to be named as emerging sport

Pickleball is making its official debut in Bundaberg with club members joining a push for the emerging sport to be considered for the Olympics.

Described as a cross between table tennis, badminton and squash, pickleball will make its official debut in Bundaberg on Saturday October, 8 2022 in the Realway Bundy Rumble Challenge.

The Bundaberg Tennis Club will host an exhibition match at its five new dedicated pickleball courts to welcome players to the sport.

“We will be one of the only clubs in Queensland to have dedicated courts,” Bundaberg Tennis Club committee member and Pickleball representative Barry Franklin said.

Pickleball has been described as one of the fastest growing sports in the world, and Mr Franklin said club numbers in Bundaberg had risen into the hundreds.

The exhibition match will host Kepnock State High School graduate Nicholas Cooper who will play alongside Brendan Lee and Martin Clark.

Mr Cooper was introduced to the sport when visiting his father-in-law Ken Curry in America who is a Super Senior Pro in pickleball.

“I came from a tennis background … and now I love the sport.”

Nicholas Cooper has found success in the sport, with national and state titles already under his belt.

Mr Cooper, now on the Pickleball Australia board of directors, is among many pushing for the National Sporting Organisation to list it as an emerging sport.

It would allow clubs to gain grants and government funding, as well as participate on the global stage in events such as the Olympics.

“The difficulty for the sport at the moment lies in finding spare courts and places to play because the sport is growing really quickly,” Mr Cooper said.

He said clubs such as the Bundaberg Tennis Club would help build even more interest in the sport.

Australia’s number one female pickleball player Sarah Burr will also attend the exhibition match to play against Mr Cooper.

“She’s always a great player, so it’s always good to have a hit against her and test your skills,” he said.

The four players will battle it out, and also offer coaching sessions to interested players at the event from 4pm at 6 Powers St.