Bastille's Story: How Hong Kong Aims to Unite Sectors to Ride the Pickleball Heat

In recent years, pickleball, a sport blending elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, has taken the world by storm, and Hong Kong is no exception. As the number of participants surges, the availability of venues and the allocation of resources have become critical to the sport's long-term grassroots growth and elite development.

Mr. Chan Siu-tong, a member of the Major Sports Events Committee, stated in the interview with Bastille Post that if the government builds dedicated pickleball courts and the private sector steps up to add more facilities to meet demand, pickleball would have a bright future ahead, especially with Hong Kong participating in and hosting international or Asian competitions.

Mr. Fung, Photo by Bastille Post

For citizens, finding a public pickleball court is notoriously difficult. Mr. Fung, a pickleball enthusiast, said that private courts typically charge between HKD$400 and HKD$500 per session. Many of his friends opt for public courts run by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, but booking them is fiercely competitive. "Sometimes you have to wait quite a while to secure a booking; it's really tough to get a court," he added. He also noted that some of his friends have even started playing in Shenzhen, where there are more courts, bookings are easier, and the overall cost is reasonable.

In response to inquiries from Bastille Post, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) stated that since 2019, it has been implementing the Trial Scheme on Opening up the Arena of Selected Sports Centres for Booking by Individuals for New Sports Activities, allowing the public to rent facilities for new sports such as pickleball. To further meet demand, LCSD has allowed free use of some outdoor badminton courts for pickleball in 2025. Together with indoor venues, there are currently 18 venues where the public can enjoy pickleball in Hong Kong.

Call for Pickleball-Specific Courts and School Venues to Ease Supply Crunch

The Hon Cheng Wing-shun, a Legislative Council Member, believed that the government's current approach to venue allocation follows development trends and the actual number of participants. "Venues are limited in Hong Kong, and the number of badminton players has always been large, so we have to strike an appropriate balance," he said. "As time goes by and more residents develop an interest in pickleball, the government can then appropriately increase public venues or playing hours for players."

The Hon Cheng Wing-shun, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Chan Siu-tong also said that the current public pickleball courts are mainly "modified" from badminton courts, which means "one court for two purposes". There is already a shortage of badminton courts in Hong Kong, and such a situation may be worsened if the government does not add more venues or set up specialized pickleball courts. He believed that the government-funded athletics clubs in 18 districts have the possibility of providing moderate support for the development of pickleball. "Whether the government or regional athletics clubs will set up some dedicated pickleball courts to develop the sport after suitable modifications, making it more appealing to enthusiasts or those who want to invest in the related business, can enter the market, is a future trend."

Regarding the future development direction of venue supply, the Hon Cheng Wing-shun believed that pickleball is more suitable for the development of the private sports industry. "Firstly, it's a new and trendy sport. Secondly, its venue doesn't need to be very large. I think the government should encourage and promote more private companies to build venues."

Both of them said that under market forces, if more participants enter the market, supply and demand, along with competition, will cause prices to fall moderately.

Ms. Elyni Jie, Photo by Bastille Post

When asked how the supply of pickleball courts could be increased, former Hong Kong badminton team member Ms. Elyni Jie — herself a pickleball enthusiast — suggested, "I think schools could help. Students don't need to go to school on Saturdays and Sundays. Maybe we could consider whether school venues could be partially opened to the public on weekends. I believe such an arrangement would help the development of pickleball in Hong Kong."

One Key Move: An Association to Unite Resources and Go Global

Besides ensuring venue availability, for pickleball to achieve long-term popularization and elite development, a sports association is needed to integrate resources and organize participation in various leagues and international competitions.

Mr. Chan Siu-tong, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Chan Siu-tong pointed out that every sport under the International Olympic Committee has its own association. Although Hong Kong claims to own some pickleball associations, none have yet gained international recognition. "Without an association to lead training, youth development, promotion, and securing government funding, progress is actually very difficult," he said. "Therefore, if the HKSAR government, or the Greater Bay Area, even our nation has an interest in promoting the development of pickleball, we can consider establishing an  association to connect with the world, integrate resources, and make promotion easier."

Ms. Elyni Jie also stated that, given the current uneven quality of pickleball coaches, she hopes the association can be established to offer stable training standards soon, which will have a more positive impact on nurturing the next generation of players as well as pickleball enthusiasts.

Hosting International Competitions: Start with Smaller-Scale Events

Last August, Hong Kong hosted the "PPA Tour Asia" at the Kai Tak Sports Park. The Hon Cheng Wing-shun believed that if Hong Kong were to host pickleball events in the future, it could start with smaller-scale competitions, such as Asian tournaments, national competitions, or local leagues. "The Budget also mentions more support for medium-sized events. Through local leagues, the development of elite sports can also be promoted," he said. "The success of sports development depends on whether there are enough elite athletes achieving results in the sport."

The Kai Tak Sports Park, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Chan Siu-tong stated that sporting events entering the "M" Mark System can apply for up to HKD$15 million in government funding per event. Considerations for approval include whether the event is an internationally recognized competition, whether renowned players are present in Hong Kong, the number of spectators attracted, and the economic benefits generated by overseas broadcasts, etc.

He admitted that most current pickleball participants are tennis enthusiasts who have "transitioned" to the sport. Pickleball is easy to learn and well-suited to the Asian physique, making Hong Kong's international participation promising. He added that competitions with prize money could attract more people to take up the sport.

Ms. Elyni Jie pointed out that hosting a variety of competitions, such as veteran tournaments and women's competitions, would allow citizens of different age groups to participate in pickleball.

Pickleball is easy to learn and well-suited to the Asian physique, making Hong Kong's international participation promising. Photo by Bastille Post

If Hong Kong can host more large-scale pickleball events in the future, Mr. Fung, a resident, said he would like to attend and watch the games. "I will pay attention to which places have world-class players," he said. "I also participate in some amateur competitions, hoping to learn from top players and improve my skills."

YELLOW SPRINGS, Ohio (AP) — Dave Chappelle strolled through the Ohio village's downtown like he always does: unbothered, unhurried and unmistakably himself.

There was no stage, no spotlight — just Yellow Springs, where he’s lived for decades, a place he spent summers as a child while his father worked as dean of students at nearby Antioch College.

It’s in places like this, away from the glare, where Chappelle finds clarity and continues to sharpen a comedic voice that has sparked debate, drawn criticism and, through it all, refused to bend.

“I’ve had a lot of support from my people,” said Chappelle, an Emmy and Grammy winner. “That’s what’s sustained me.”

He sat down with The Associated Press before walking through the town, where he'd recently participated in the ribbon-cutting for a restored 19th-century schoolhouse that now houses a public radio station and will serve as office space for his company, Pilot Boy Productions.

Chappelle said he didn’t initially expect his voice to carry the weight it does today.

“Sometimes people will attach things to your voice that don’t necessarily have anything to do with you,” he said. “Your responsibility is to be true to yourself and your work.”

That voice has become one of the most scrutinized in comedy, particularly after criticism of jokes about transgender people in his Netflix specials. The backlash surrounding “The Closer” in 2021 drew protests and internal pushback at Netflix, turning his work into a flashpoint in broader debates over comedy, culture and free speech.

Chappelle said he has never set out to provoke controversy, describing his work as an extension of the same stand-up he has always done. He said the reaction often felt disconnected from the audiences who continue to show up.

“The media used to talk (expletive) about jokes that I did … and none of that stuff swayed my audience,” he said. “So I feel like I need to be true to something.”

Chappelle said being in Yellow Springs allows him a different perspective without the pressures of the entertainment industry.

“One of the best sovereignties that a person can enjoy is the sovereignty of their mind,” he said. “Just the idea of knowing where you land and the rest of the world begins.”

For many fans, Chappelle’s voice is still tied to “Chappelle’s Show,” the Comedy Central series that premiered in 2003 and quickly became a cultural force with its sharp satire on race, politics and pop culture.

The show ran for two full seasons with an abbreviated third season released in 2006 after Chappelle walked away during production. It was a decision he later attributed to burnout and concerns about the show's direction.

Now, Chappelle says he’s at least open to the idea of revisiting it.

“If you’d asked me that question a year ago, I’d have told you absolutely not,” he said. “But in the last few weeks … I’m considering it.”

Chappelle acknowledged the comedy landscape has shifted, with digital platforms and social media creating new pathways for humor and a new generation of creators shaping the conversation in real time.

As he walked through town, Chappelle framed criticism less as a verdict than something to endure. He pointed to “The Muhammad Ali Reader,” a collection that documents the intense criticism the late boxing legend faced during his career.

“It’s every negative thing they said about him,” he said. “And history proved him to be absolutely right. ... As bad as that weather was, there’s another side to it."

Chappelle framed the tension around his work in a broader cultural context.

“Black life in America, there’s always an ‘or else’ to all of it,” he said. “Don’t say this or else; don’t do that or else. And then there’s those few brave people who say, ‘Or else what?’”

Even as he reflects on his own career, Chappelle said he’s paying close attention to the next generation of comedians. He pointed to Druski as part of a new wave showing how audiences engage with comedy.

“I love what he does,” Chappelle said before drawing a distinction between digital success and stand-up. That freedom to fail, he suggested, is essential to the development as a comedian — which can be harder to find in today's fast-moving digital landscape.

“One of the worst things that can happen to a comedian is becoming successful before they get good,” Chappelle said. “Because you miss the part where you get to explore and make mistakes.”

Chappelle remains active onstage, including upcoming performances tied to the Netflix Is a Joke Fest in Los Angeles in May.

Back home, he continues to perform at his own comedy club — which used to be a firehouse — in Yellow Springs, where he has hosted surprise sets and brought in high-profile guests, including Travis Scott, Lizzo, Wyclef Jean, Marsha Ambrosius, Clipse, 50 Cent and Christopher Cross.

The village has also drawn attention beyond its size. Over the weekend, Michelle Obama and her brother, Craig Robinson, interviewed Chappelle for their podcast at the radio station.

After decades in comedy, he said he doesn’t spend much time thinking about his legacy, though the idea occasionally comes up in conversation with peers like Chris Rock.

“I’ll be like, ‘They’re gonna write books about us,’” he said. “And those guys will laugh. But they might … or they might not.”

Asked whether he feels he’s living out his purpose, Chappelle paused.

“Man, I’m a lucky guy in that respect,” he said. “I don’t know if I’m doing that on purpose, but I dreamt of being a famous comedian. Took me 40 years, but I did it. … This is better than I dreamt of.”

Comedian Dave Chappelle appears during an interview in Yellow Springs, Ohio on April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos)

Comedian Dave Chappelle, right, shakes hands with Dayton Mayor Shenise Turner-Sloss at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new studio for WYSO Public Radio in Yellow Springs, Ohio, on April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Jonathan Landrum)

Comedian Dave Chappelle appears during an interview in Yellow Springs, Ohio on April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos)