PPA Tour Asia Photo Named Finalist at World Sports Photography Awards 2026

The inaugural PPA Tour Asia season produced numerous unforgettable moments, many of which were captured by tournament photographers throughout the tour. One standout image has now earned international recognition, being named a finalist at the World Sports Photography Awards 2026. 

The photograph features Tyson McGuffin and Eric Oncins celebrating a pivotal point during the Men’s Doubles gold-medal match at the Panas Malaysia Cup 2025. Facing the formidable duo of Christian Alshon and Ben Johns, McGuffin and Oncins marked the moment by tossing their paddles into the air. The image freezes both paddles mid-flight while capturing the pair’s raw emotion and competitive intensity. 

McGuffin and Oncins went on to claim the title in dramatic fashion, winning the match 2–1 (11–5, 13–15, 11–9) to secure gold at the opening leg of the PPA Tour Asia season. 

The image was taken by tournament photographer Ashok Kumar and was selected as a finalist in the Racquet Sports category. The recognition represents a major milestone for pickleball, placing the sport among the world’s most celebrated sporting imagery. 

Widely regarded as the most prestigious competition in sports photography, the World Sports Photography Awards is judged by leading figures across sport, media, photography, and creative industries. The 2026 edition was the most competitive to date, receiving more than 23,000 submissions from 4,100 photographers spanning 123 countries. 

Winners will be announced in January 2026. You can check out the other finalists in different categories here.