TRAILBLAZERS DELIVER BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCES AT ORANGE COUNTY CUP
June 23, 2025
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The UPA Asia Trailblazers closed out their PPA Tour campaign in the USA with their biggest performance yet, carving out headlines in the pickleball world.
At the Select Medical Orange County Cup, China’s Yufei Long and Chinese Taipei’s Jamie Wei stunned No.4 seeds Jorja Johnson and Lacy Schneemann 2-1 (12-10, 8-11, 11-5) in the round of 32 of the Pro Women’s Doubles. The duo, who started their journey in qualifying, continued their winning ways all the way to the quarterfinals before making their exit from the event.
The upset headlined a dominant showing for the Trailblazers, who also claimed multiple medals in the 5.0 divisions during the June 16-22 tournament in San Clemente.
Vietnam’s Ken Tam partnered with Malaysia’s Mia Athilla to capture gold in Women’s Doubles, while Japan’s Mayu Ito teamed up with Vietnam’s Sophia Tran for silver. The Mixed Doubles category saw Ito and Malaysia’s Jimmy Liong claim gold, with Macau, China’s Marco Leung joining Yufei Long for silver.
The Men’s Doubles podium also heavily featured Asia’s rising stars, with Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Chen-an partnering Leung for silver, while Liong combined with India’s Aryaan Bhatia to secure bronze.
The medal haul represents the Trailblazers’ strongest showing after two and a half months of intensive training at Arizona Athletic Grounds that has transformed 12 of the region’s most promising players into legitimate contenders on the global stage. From their breakthrough at Baton Rouge to medals at the Atlanta Slam, the Trailblazers have steadily elevated their game against increasingly elite competition.
With their USA campaign complete, the Trailblazers now turn their attention home as professional pickleball officially arrives in Asia. The inaugural PPA Tour Asia season kicks off with the Panas Malaysia Open from July 3-6, 2025, marking a historic moment for the sport’s expansion into the world’s most populous continent.