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| (Image Source: Manila Standard/Gearbox Sports) |
Gearbox Sports standouts Diana Hughes and Grace Woo returned to the top of the international pickleball podium, capturing the gold medal in the Women’s Doubles Open 35+ division at the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Asia 1000 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, while Hughes added a silver medal in Women’s Singles Open 35+. The victory capped a strong campaign for the Filipino duo and marked their return to international gold after a string of podium finishes throughout the year.
Hughes nearly made it a double-gold campaign in Kuala Lumpur. In the Women’s Singles 35+ division, Hughes went undefeated in the round-robin stage including an impressive 11-3 victory over Chinese Taipei’s Li Ting Su who eventually won the gold medal. Hughes ultimately settled for silver after Li defeated her in the singles final. But the story did not end there. In the Women’s Doubles final, Hughes and Woo bounced back in emphatic fashion, defeating Li and her Chinese Taipei compatriot Chih Hsuan Hsu to capture the gold medal. The two-medal performance highlighted Hughes’ consistency and competitiveness throughout the tournament while the doubles victory provided a fitting response after her singles setback against Li. The doubles gold was particularly meaningful for Hughes and Woo who had been knocking on the door of another international championship. The pair won silver at the WPC Bangkok in May, gold in Ormoc in June, bronze at the PPA 500 Singapore in July, gold in Dumaguete in August, and silver at the PPA Asia Vietnam in August. Their Kuala Lumpur triumph finally brought another international gold to their growing collection. For Hughes, the result was a reflection of the work they have put in away from competition. She shared, “We’ve really been putting in the work — drills, practice games, and workouts, including lifting weights and working on our strength and conditioning. It’s not always easy, but we know that the level of competition internationally keeps getting stronger. All that hard training helped prepare us for moments like this.” Hughes also paid tribute to Woo’s determination and preparation which she said translated into an outstanding performance when it mattered most. “I’m especially proud of Grace. Her determination and commitment to training have been amazing. She has really put in the work, and you could see the results during the actual tournament. She played with so much confidence and determination and she stepped up when we needed it most.”
For Woo, the championship was also a testament to their willingness to continuously evolve as players and as a team. “We’ve been working hard to evolve our game and adapt to different and stronger competition. Every tournament gives us something new to learn, and we try to make adjustments and improve each time we play.” Woo also expressed her appreciation for her longtime partner, stating, “I’m very thankful to Diana for continuously trusting me as her partner. We’ve gone through a lot of tournaments together, and that trust means a lot. We continue to learn, adjust and push each other to become better.” The Kuala Lumpur gold adds another major international achievement to the resumes of Hughes and Woo, further proving that the Filipino pair belongs among the top players on the Asian pickleball circuit. Hughes and Woo’s continued development and success are made possible with the support of their sponsors and partners: Gearbox Pickleball, Alset Pickleball, HOO Dermatology, TopSpin Pro, SafeOne Protective Eyewear, Wilson PH, and Universal Paint. They also acknowledge their training grounds and the facilities that continue to support their preparation: Paddlemates Pickleball Hub, GoldenTop Sports, and Pickleball Central PH. Their Kuala Lumpur triumph is another testament to the value of consistent training, strong partnerships, and the determination to keep raising the level of Filipino pickleball on the international stage.
