Iconic PPA Asia Moment Finalist at World Sports Photography Awards
| December 17, 2025
An iconic moment from the Panas Malaysia Cup 2025 is getting recognized on the global stage. The Men’s Doubles gold medal celebration has been selected as a finalist in the World Sports Photography Awards 2026.
The World Sports Photography Awards is the world’s most prestigious sports photography competition, judged by leading figures from sport, media, photography, and creative industries. The 2026 edition proved to be the most competitive yet, drawing over 23,000 images from 4,100 photographers across more than 123 countries around the world.
Tournament photographer Ashok Kumar’s shot earned finalist status in the Racquet Sports category. That moment came during the gold medal match against Ben Johns and Christian Alshon. McGuffin and Oncins took the championship 11-5, 13-15, 11-9, battling through three games in one of the tournament’s most intense finals.
The photograph captures pure celebration – Tyson McGuffin and Eric Oncins have just won a blockbuster point, and in the same instant, both players launch their paddles skyward. The equipment hangs frozen in the frame as raw emotion and athletic intensity are distilled into a single moment.
The recognition marks a significant milestone for pickleball photography on the global stage, with the sport represented among the world’s elite sporting imagery.
Winners will be announced in January 2026.
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