Chinese pickleball player Long Yufei stated it was worthwhile to postpone her doctoral studies in order to pursue a career in the new sport.
She was given the chance to participate in the United Pickleball Association’s first Asia Trailblazers Program just as she was ready to begin a biomedical informatics degree in the US.A contract as a UPA Asia Pro will be awarded to 12 players from the region who complete a three-month training program in the United States. Playing in at least ten events per year, mostly in Asia but also in the US and Australia, is part of the two-year contract.The decision to postpone her doctoral studies was challenging, but Long, who graduated with a Master’s degree in public health from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, chose to choose a less conventional path.”I had invested months crafting potential research proposals and preparing applications. The sunk cost was high. I spent the whole of February evaluating the best option … I was choosing between two different life trajectories,” she said just before the pickleball opportunity arose and received admission letters from Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Washington.Long decided to try her hand at sports because of her parents, friends, and mentors.”I am very grateful for them and the fact that I have the privilege to have these cool opportunities to choose from,” she said.Long was a senior captain at Boston College, where she received her bachelor’s degree in biology and a former NCAA Division I tennis player with Vanderbilt. She claimed that a year after graduating from college tennis, she missed the rush of competition and was “exploring” other sports.”[Pickleball] rekindled that drive while introducing me to new challenges,” the 26-year-old said. “When I went to my first local tournament, I realised I could not rely on my power and tennis technique only.”Unlike tennis, pickleball demands more patience and precision than raw power. The ‘kitchen’ battles require split-second decisions and fine motor control, creating a different tactical challenge than tennis.”Long, who also likes other racquet sports including table tennis and badminton, expressed optimism that pickleball would be included to the Olympic program in Brisbane by 2032.”Representing my country on that stage would be the ultimate dream,” she said. “If the Olympic opportunity presents itself, it will shape my competitive timeline and training focus over the coming years.”Long, who won the Baton Rouge PPA Challenger in Louisiana in April, is ranked No. 71 in women’s singles on the Professional Pickleball Association’s list and is anticipated to participate in this year’s first PPA Tour Asia.The top-tier China Slam will be the main event of the new series, which will also feature four lower-tier legs in July and August in Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, and Fukuoka, followed by a return to Kuala Lumpur in October.The second-tier Kuala Lumpur Cup offers US$500,000 in prize money, while the China Slam, which has a US$1 million (HK$7,800,000) prize pool, is anticipated to draw top players from around the world.With a total prize pool of US$50,000, the Hong Kong Open is anticipated to take place at the 10,000-seat Kai Tak Arena from August 21 to 24.