Team Asia International has included as the replacement for Vietnam’s Hien Truong for the upcoming Major League Pickleball (MLP) Nations Cup, the league announced on October 21.
The 15-year-old will join a six-player lineup featuring Rika Fujiwara, Lingwei Kong, Jimmy Liong, Jack Wong and Macy Ybañez as Team Asia International prepares for the inaugural edition of the competition.
The tournament is scheduled to take place from October 30 to November 1 at Brookhaven Country Club.
Shimabukuro’s inclusion has strengthened the squad. Her recent performances have been phenomenal, making her an excellent replacement for Truong in Team Asia International.
The Nations Cup will bring together teams representing different regions, with Team Asia International drawn in Group B.
The Asian side is in the same group as Team Australia, Team Europe – East and Team Latin America. The format places the team among a diverse field of regional representatives, setting up a series of contests ahead of the main World Championships.
For Shimabukuro, who earned a three-year PPA Tour deal in September 2025, the Nations Cup will serve as a major international fixture to gain the requisite experience as she looks to build on her gains from the 2026 season. She has already won seven titles this year across men’s singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles disciplines.
With the tournament approaching, Team Asia International will look to navigate a challenging Group B campaign against Australia, Europe – East and Latin America. Shimabukuro’s addition completes the reported roster changes ahead of the team’s participation in the inaugural MLP Nations Cup.
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