CRYSTAL CITY, Mo. — Jefferson County resident Tony Hoang recently was drafted to play in the National Pickleball League as a member of the Houston Hammers.
The NPL, a professional league for women and men 50 and older, started in 2022.
The league has 12 teams made up of 14 to 16 players. Each squad’s roster must be made up of half women and half men, and at least two players must be at least 60 years old, according to the NPL website.
Pickleball – a game described as a mixture of tennis, badminton and table tennis – has experienced a boom in popularity across the country in the last decade.
Hoang, who turned 50 this year and lives in Crystal City, said he began playing the sport five years ago.
Continue reading with The Leader.
To watch 5 On Your Side broadcasts or reports 24/7, 5 On Your Side is always streaming on 5+. Download for free on Roku, Amazon Fire TV or the Apple TV App Store.