Sansan-sponsored pickleball player Nasa Hatakeyama achieves historic runner-up finish in PPA Tour Asia men's singles
Nasa Hatakeyama, a professional pickleball player sponsored by Sansan, has become the first Japanese player in history to achieve a runner-up finish in the men's singles at the 'PPA Asia 500 Panas Kuala Lumpur Open 2026' held in Malaysia. Sansan plans to further accelerate the adoption and market growth of pickleball through the Tokyo tournament in July, where it will serve as the title sponsor, and the opening of 'Sansan Pickleball Court Ikebukuro,' the first dedicated pickleball facility in Tokyo.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 21, 2026 at 00:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 20, 2026 at 16:02
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 20, 2026 at 16:28 (26 min after Collected)
## Sansan-sponsored athlete Nasa Hatakeyama makes history
Professional pickleball player Nasa Hatakeyama, who holds a sponsorship agreement with Sansan, Inc.—a company with the mission of 'Creating innovation from encounters'—achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Japanese player to secure a runner-up finish in the men's singles at the 'PPA Asia 500 Panas Kuala Lumpur Open 2026.' The event took place from May 13 to 17, 2026, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
## Tournament and performance
The 'PPA Asia 500 Panas Kuala Lumpur Open 2026' is a major event in the Asia tour of the PPA Tour, the world's premier professional pickleball tour, held at 9Pickle in Kuala Lumpur. The tournament attracted world-class athletes to compete in the high-level Asia tour event.
Hatakeyama participated starting from the qualifiers, defeating higher-ranked players, including those with professional tour contracts. Although he narrowly lost in the final against a top young player from Vietnam, he achieved a historic result as the first Japanese player to reach the runner-up position in men's singles at an international tournament.
## Future outlook
Sansan is committed to the growth of pickleball as a professional sport. Starting July 1, the company will serve as the title sponsor for the 'PPA ASIA 500 Sansan TOKYO OPEN 2026 Produced by TBS' in Tachikawa, Tokyo. Additionally, the company is scheduled to open the 'Sansan Pickleball Court Ikebukuro' in July, which will be the first large-scale dedicated pickleball facility in Tokyo. This indoor/outdoor facility will be available to both professional and amateur players, serving as a hub to accelerate the sport's adoption and market expansion.
Professional pickleball player Nasa Hatakeyama, who holds a sponsorship agreement with Sansan, Inc.—a company with the mission of 'Creating innovation from encounters'—achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Japanese player to secure a runner-up finish in the men's singles at the 'PPA Asia 500 Panas Kuala Lumpur Open 2026.' The event took place from May 13 to 17, 2026, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
## Tournament and performance
The 'PPA Asia 500 Panas Kuala Lumpur Open 2026' is a major event in the Asia tour of the PPA Tour, the world's premier professional pickleball tour, held at 9Pickle in Kuala Lumpur. The tournament attracted world-class athletes to compete in the high-level Asia tour event.
Hatakeyama participated starting from the qualifiers, defeating higher-ranked players, including those with professional tour contracts. Although he narrowly lost in the final against a top young player from Vietnam, he achieved a historic result as the first Japanese player to reach the runner-up position in men's singles at an international tournament.
## Future outlook
Sansan is committed to the growth of pickleball as a professional sport. Starting July 1, the company will serve as the title sponsor for the 'PPA ASIA 500 Sansan TOKYO OPEN 2026 Produced by TBS' in Tachikawa, Tokyo. Additionally, the company is scheduled to open the 'Sansan Pickleball Court Ikebukuro' in July, which will be the first large-scale dedicated pickleball facility in Tokyo. This indoor/outdoor facility will be available to both professional and amateur players, serving as a hub to accelerate the sport's adoption and market expansion.
FAQ
What is pickleball?
Pickleball is a sport that originated in the U.S., combining elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, played on a court the same size as a badminton court.
What is the historic achievement by the Japanese player?
Nasa Hatakeyama became the first Japanese player to reach the runner-up position in the men's singles at the PPA Asia 500 international tournament in May 2026.
Why is Sansan involved in sports?
The company believes that the ability of sports to create connections across generations and values aligns with its mission of creating innovation from encounters.