Zoleta plucks pickleball bronze

Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Bien Zoleta grabbed a bronze medal in the 2024 Asia Pickleball Open at the Thanyapura Sports and Health Center in Phuket, Thailand last Friday.

Zoleta, the soft tennis ace who emerged with two gold medals in the previous SEA Games in Cambodia last year, partnered with American Yanhua Hawkins in securing a 21-8 victory over South Korean pair of Juhyun Lee and Jiyong Seo in the bronze medal match of the women's doubles event 4.5 category.

Zoleta, who banners the Lucena Pickleball Club, said the event is her first official pickleball tournament.

She added that she's using the tournament as part of her cross-training while her sister and soft tennis partner, Bambi, is calling the shots for the national girls' lawn tennis team in the Billie Jean King Cup Juniors Asia Oceania Pre-Qualifying event.

"My first pickleball tournament. Got lucky in the women's doubles 4.5 category," Zoleta said.

"Same as frisbee, pickleball is a way for me to cross-train. I'm just so happy to represent the Philippines and enjoy all the sports."

Zoleta is gunning for another medal when she partners with older brother, Karl, in the mixed doubles event.

Karl, for his part, wound fourth in the men's singles 35+ 4.5 category.

Rounding out the LPC squad are Evan Villapando, Dax Carlos, Mark Chuy, Amanda Zoleta, Odi Tayag and John Eric Buhay.