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Mike Chan

A Chinese pickleball player said it was worth deferring her PhD studies to pursue a professional career in the emerging sport.
Long Yufei, who was about to start a biomedical informatics course in the United States, was presented with the opportunity to become a part of the United Pickleball Association’s inaugural Asia Trailblazers Programme.
Under the scheme, 12 players across the region will undergo a three-month training stint in the US and, if they impress, will be given a contract as a UPA Asia Pro. The two-year deal includes playing in at least 10 events a year, predominantly in Asia but also in the US and Australia.
Long, who holds a Master’s degree in public health from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, said the decision to defer her doctoral studies was difficult, but she had opted to embrace a less traditional route.
“I had invested months crafting potential research proposals and preparing applications,” said the Shenzhen native, who received acceptance letters from the University of Washington and from Washington University in St Louis shortly before the pickleball opportunity emerged.

“The sunk cost was high,” she said. “I spent the whole of February evaluating the best option … I was choosing between two different life trajectories.”
Thanks to her parents, mentors and friends, Long decided to give sport a chance.
“I am very grateful for them and the fact that I have the privilege to have these cool opportunities to choose from,” she said.
Formerly a NCAA Division I tennis player with Vanderbilt and a senior captain at Boston College, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in biology, Long said she missed the thrill of competition a year after college tennis and was “exploring” different 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.”
The “kitchen” in pickleball is the non-volley zone on either side of the net.
Long, who also enjoys other racquet sports such as badminton and table tennis, said she was optimistic pickleball would become an Olympic sport by 2032 in Brisbane.
“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.”

Ranked No 71 in women’s singles on the Professional Pickleball Association’s list, Long, who won the Baton Rouge PPA Challenger in Louisiana in April, is expected to feature in the inaugural PPA Tour Asia this year.
Headlined by the top-tier China Slam in early October, the new series will include four lower-tier legs, in Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Fukuoka in July and August, and then back to Kuala Lumpur in October.
Top players worldwide are expected to play in the China Slam, which boasts a US$1 million (HK$7,800,000) prize pool, while the second-tier Kuala Lumpur Cup offers prize money of US$500,000.
The Hong Kong Open is expected to run from August 21 to 24 at the 10,000-seat Kai Tak Arena and has a total prize pool of US$50,000.


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Promising Chinese player defers PhD programme to give pickleball career a shot

Long Yufei has opted to defer her doctoral studies to play pickleball. Photo: Handout

Long Yufei was an NCAA Division I tennis player at Vanderbilt University. Photo: Handout

Long Yufei is expected to star in the inaugural PPA Tour Asia this year. Photo: Handout

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Long Yufei turns down two US universities to join training programme offering a two-year professional contract


Long Yufei turns down two US universities to join training programme offering a two-year professional contract.


Zhang Yufei

Promising Chinese player defers PhD programme to give pickleball career a shot

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Long Yufei turns down two US universities to join training programme offering a two-year professional contract

Long Yufei turns down two US universities to join training programme offering a two-year professional contract