National committee organises first-ever national competition to select Portugal’s international pickleball ambassadors
The Portuguese National Pickleball Championship, taking place on July 27 and 28 in Vila Real de Santo António, will be a historic event determining the elite athletes who make up the first-ever Portuguese pickleball national team. The public is invited to watch the event for free and beginning on both days at 8am until about 1pm.
The Associacão Portuguesa de Pickleball (APP) committee, a dedicated group of pickleball players from around the country, have meticulously organised every detail of this groundbreaking championship through virtual meetings to ensure a spectacular event.
The committee selected the best pickleball players from across Portugal to compete to earn a spot on the country’s national team which will represent Portugal at an international competition in November of this year in Southampton in Great Britain.
Coach/trainer and committee member Denise Boutin, who resides in VRSA, is overseeing the local logistics for the championship.
“This is an exciting milestone for the rapidly growing sport of pickleball in Portugal,” Boutin says, encouraging everyone to “come out and witness history being made as we select Portugal’s first-ever national pickleball team”.
The event, which will be held at the Clube de Ténis in VRSA, is supported by a sponsorship from João Silva, owner of Latté Bistro and Taberna do 16 (set to open this summer in VRSA).
The two-day tournament in the Eastern Algarve is sure to be a spectacular and fabulous inaugural event. “We are honoured to support this event and the community here who have embraced our bistro,” said João. “Pickleball is a great sport for all ages, and we are happy to encourage more activity and exercise in our community.”
Pickleball in VRSA began in 2022 when Denise Boutin (a certified coach with IPTPA, International Pickleball Training Professional Association) and Nancy White established the first “Official Pickleball Association” in the Algarve and began teaching the sport to locals.
They utilised publicity and internet videos to announce and spread the word about the new sport. The club quickly gained support from residents, who also brought friends and helped teach local teachers and children about the sport, which is quick and easy to learn compared to other sports.
The club inspired the creation of another independent pickleball club in the nearby city of Tavira.
As pickleball continues to gain popularity and attract players worldwide, Portugal has embraced the sport with open arms. The country’s enthusiasm for the fast-paced, easy-to-learn game has led to a significant milestone: the establishment of a Portuguese national pickleball team.
This development not only showcases the sport’s rapid growth in Portugal but also highlights the country’s commitment to fostering a thriving pickleball community and competing on the international stage.
By Veronica Ondrejech
