PCL Asia: Rising Stars Grand Championship

**(U19 Mixed Team Championship)**

Tournament Overview: PCL Asia Rising Stars Grand Championship
Location: Beijing International Academy, Hainan Island, China
Venue: Elite Training Center (6 Dedicated Championship Courts)
Teams: 16 Elite U19 Teams (13 International Qualifiers + 3 Host Teams from China)

The Core Mission
The PCL Asia: Rising Stars Grand Championship serves as the definitive youth pathway within the Pickleball Champions League Asia ecosystem. This event is designed to transition the region’s top U19 talent from regional competitors to elite international athletes.

The program prioritizes long-term athletic development, professional mentorship, and global visibility over traditional prize-money structures, mirroring the elite youth academies of global football and basketball.

Participating International Delegations
The following regions have qualified teams to compete at the Grand Championship:
● Philippines: Cebu, Manila, Davao
● Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh
● India: Mumbai, Indore, Pune
● Taiwan: 2 Qualified Teams
● Indonesia: Bali
● Japan: Tokyo
● Russia: Moscow
● China: 3 Host Teams

Pro Player Mentorship Model
At the Finals, every qualified team is:
● Paired with a professional pickleball player (Rob Nunnery, Roos Van Reek, James Ignatowich, etc)
● Assigned that pro as a dedicated coach and mentor for the duration of the event

The pro coach provides:
● On-court technical instruction
● Match strategy and preparation
● Team role definition and chemistry guidance
● Exposure to professional habits and standards

This transforms the Finals into an immersive development experience rather than a standard youth tournament.

Finals Competition Format (Overview)

The championship is conducted over a two-day period, utilizing a multi-stage format to ensure both competitive depth and high-stakes elimination.

Day 1: Group Stage (Round-Robin)
● Format: 16 teams divided into 4 groups of 4.
● Objective: Teams compete in a round-robin format to determine seeding.
● Match Composition:
- Men’s Doubles
- Women’s Doubles
- 2 Mixed Doubles Sets
- Dream Breaker: In the event of a 2-2 set tie, a singles-rotation "DreamBreaker" determines the match winner.

Day 2: Knockout Phase & Finals
● Quarterfinals & Semifinals: Top-performing teams from the Group Stage advance to the primary Championship Bracket.
● Championship Final: The gold-medal match to determine the season champion.
● Third-Place Playoff: Determination of the bronze medalists.

Championship Scholarships at AEPA

Championship Team Scholarship
The winning team of PCL Asia: Rising Stars receives:
● 8-13 weeks of full-time coaching at AEPA
● Awarded to all 4 players on the team
● Estimated value: USD $10,000 per player
This is a semester-length elite development program.
Coach-Selected Scholarships
In addition:
● 6 additional players are selected by the pro coaches
● Selection based on talent, work ethic, coachability, and long-term potential

Each selected player receives:
● 8-13 weeks of free coaching at AEPA
● Value: USD $10,000 per player