Quang Duong’s Olympic Dream: Quang Duong, an 18-year-old pickleball prodigy, envisions the sport surpassing tennis in popularity and inclusion in the 2028 Olympics. Despite reaching the semi-finals at the Lapiplasty 2024 World Pickleball Championship, organized by the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA), Duong was unable to compete in the finals. This tournament attracts many of the world’s top athletes in men’s and women’s categories.
Transition from Tennis to Pickleball
Duong’s journey into pickleball began after a wrist injury during a men’s tennis tournament in Newport Beach. Seeking a less strenuous racket sport, he discovered pickleball, which allowed him to play without pain.
Remarkably, after just one day of practice, he was already defeating local professionals. Two weeks later, he competed in his first professional match at the PPA Atlanta Open, marking the start of his pickleball career.
Diverse Racket Sports Background
Before committing to pickleball, Duong had experience in tennis, table tennis, and padel. He notes that while these sports share similarities, each has distinct characteristics.
He believes a strong tennis foundation provides the greatest advantage in mastering pickleball fundamentals, while table tennis enhances reflexes and hand-eye coordination, and badminton improves wrist action.
Physical and Mental Attributes
Duong emphasizes that physical strength from tennis and mental resilience are crucial in pickleball. He credits his mental fortitude to his father’s training, highlighting that pickleball is an extremely psychological sport where momentum plays a crucial role. Players must manage their emotions and regain composure quickly to prepare for the next shot.
Father’s Influence
Duong’s father, a top junior table tennis player in Vietnam over 40 years ago, has significantly influenced his training. His father’s ability to analyze and incorporate skills from different racket sports has been invaluable.
Many PPA Tour professionals seek his father’s advice or train with him. Duong acknowledges that he has become so accustomed to his father’s coaching style that new and innovative drills are constantly needed to push him further.
Impact and Future Prospects
Duong’s rapid ascent in pickleball shows the sport’s growing appeal and competitiveness. His belief in pickleball’s potential Olympic inclusion reflects its expanding global recognition.
As more athletes like Duong transition from other racket sports, pickleball’s evolution and prominence are assured to rise, potentially reshaping the landscape of racket sports worldwide.
News in Brief: Quang Duong’s Olympic Dream
Quang Duong, 18, predicts pickleball will surpass tennis and feature in the 2028 Olympics. After a wrist injury, he transitioned from tennis to pickleball, quickly excelling. His diverse racket sports background and his father’s coaching have been pivotal. Duong’s journey highlights pickleball’s growing global appeal.
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