PH pickleball players bag 7 medals at Asia Grand Slam in China

DYNAMIC DUO. Dino Jimenez (left) and Davis Alano win the gold in the men's doubles Open 5.0 division during the first leg of the World Pickleball Championships’ Asia Pickleball Grand Slam held in Hebei, China on June 18 to 22, 2025. They also bagged the bronze medal in the succeeding leg. (Contributed photo)

MANILA – Filipino pickleball athletes continue to make waves on the international stage, clinching multiple medals at the recent World Pickleball Championships (WPC) Asia Grand Slam in China.

Team Philippines brought home one gold, one silver, and five bronze medals from the tournament, which drew over 800 players from 20 countries.

Dino Jimenez and Davis Alano dominated the 35+ men's doubles Open category in the first leg held in Hebei City.

Jimenez, a former top junior tennis player, also snared the bronze medal in the 35+ men's singles Open, while the pair secured the bronze medal in the second leg in Baoding City.

"It's always an honor to win for the country. I'm happy that I was able to perform well," Jimenez said in an interview on Saturday.

He began playing pickleball in November last year and immediately got a silver at the Pattaya Open in Thailand in March.

For Alano, winning the gold medal was unexpected because he suffered a torn calf injury two weeks before going to China.

"I was really excited to play in China. It was my first time to compete in the 35+ category. But I did not expect anything because of the injury. We really helped each other to win our first gold medal," Alano said.

He also got the bronze medal in the 19+ men's doubles with Kim Ivor Saraza.

Anna Clarice Patrimonio, also a tennis player, pocketed the silver medal in the 19+ women's singles Open; while Medene Ramos-Saraza and Patricia Raymundo captured the bronze in the 19+ women's doubles category.

The Philippine team, comprising Jimenez, Alano, Saraza, Ramos-Saraza, Patrimonio, Ken Unique Dela Cruz, and Christian Joshua Luna, likewise got the bronze medal in the team event.

Pickleball is an indoor or outdoor game similar to tennis, but is played on a level court with short-handled paddles and a perforated plastic ball. (PNA)

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