Now Reading: 14-year-old World No 1 Rex Thais rules Asian pickleball with two more golds
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14-year-old World No 1 Rex Thais rules Asian pickleball with two more golds
14-year-old World No 1 Rex Thais rules Asian pickleball with two more golds
Rex Thais, the 14-year-old American junior pickleball world No 1, won two gold medals at a tournament in Vietnam. He took the Doubles title with partner Huy Lam and the Mixed Doubles…
The Story in Brief
Rex Thais, the 14-year-old American junior pickleball world No 1, won two gold medals at a tournament in Vietnam. He took the Doubles title with partner Huy Lam and the Mixed Doubles crown with Nguyen Minh Ngoc. In 2025, he collected all seven available medals across the PPA Tour Asia season, the only player to do so.
Based in the US, Thais has chosen to compete extensively in Asia, including earlier wins in Penang, Malaysia. He has said his next target is bigger Pro-level results.
The Indian Opinion
The story of a 14-year-old American flying repeatedly to Asia to dominate junior pickleball is heartening, but the sport's boosters risk overselling it as a turning point. The narrative that Asian tournaments are now a top-tier destination draws attention from a simpler fact: Rex Thais still has to earn his place against senior pros. Whether he can scale that gap, or whether Asia's infrastructure will matter if the top juniors age out, is the real test. Watch his performance at the next Pro-level event.
Source: timesnownews.com
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