KUALA LUMPUR: A government backbencher called on the Youth and Sports Ministry to focus on developing pickleball.
Kampar member of parliament Chong Zhemin said: "Pickleball is very popular now. Although it hasn't yet been included in any international competitions, there's great deal of potential in it.
"Maybe in 10 years, pickleball will be part of international sporting events.
"I hope the ministry can recognise this trend and allocate resources for building more pickleball courts," he told the Dewan Rakyat when debating the Supply Bill 2025.
Meanwhile, he said the ministry should also focus on developing squash and table tennis.
"We know that squash will be included in the Olympic Games, and 10 to 20 years ago, Datuk Nicol David, a former world champion, was one of the best players in the world.
"Every time she competed, we knew she was likely to win.
"So why is it that today we can't find a player like Nicol David? Perhaps the ministry could look into this issue."