World Pickleball Federation
Global Development Committee (WPF-GDC)
To realize its long-term vision and Olympic goals, the WPF board has appointed Mr. Allen Zeng as the Chairman of the Global Development Committee. This committee is the sole global executive body of the WPF and holds strategic importance for the rapid development of pickleball worldwide over the next five years. Mr. Zeng is currently leading the WPF team in the strategic design and execution of activities in China and around the world. The swift popularization and high-level competition of pickleball in China will provide valuable reference experiences and practical models for the sport's global development. This will play a crucial role in WPF's efforts to make pickleball an official Olympic event.
During the 2023 Asian Games, the WPF-GDC held world pickleball exhibition games in three cities in China, including the inauguration ceremony at the 2008 and 2022 Olympic "Water Cube" Stadium.
Allen Zeng
Chairman, WPF-GDC
allen@worldpickleballfederation.org
+1 425-326-7777
+86 13041266666
Asia Pickleball Referee Alliance
About the Asia Pickleball Referee Alliance (APRA):
The Asia Pickleball Referee Alliance (APRA) is an international referee training and certification organization established by the World Pickleball Federation Global Development Committee (WPFGDC). Its mission is to accelerate the professionalization, standardization, and internationalization of pickleball across Asia by building a unified and systematic referee development framework.
Mission & Purpose:
The core mission of APRA is to enhance the overall competitive level of pickleball in Asia through comprehensive referee education. By introducing internationally recognized officiating standards and training systems, the Alliance ensures that every referee it certifies upholds a consistent philosophy, professionalism, and integrity in line with global standards.
In an era where pickleball is rapidly expanding worldwide, APRA serves not only as a training institution for Asia, but also as a bridge connecting Asia with the global pickleball community. Through structured training programs and internationally accredited certifications, APRA helps participants advance from foundational referees to globally qualified professionals, earning greater international recognition for Asian players, tournaments, and organizations.
Core Functions:
1. International Referee Training & Certification APRA adopts the standardized curriculum used by both the USA Pickleball Association (USAP) and the World Pickleball Federation (WPF), providing multi-level, systematic international referee training programs.
2. Referee Standards Development The Alliance promotes the establishment of unified referee standards, evaluation systems, and certification procedures across Asia, achieving full alignment with global regulations.
3. Technical Support & Professional Services APRA offers technical consultation and referee deployment for tournaments throughout Asia, ensuring fairness, consistency, and professionalism in officiating.
4. International Exchange & Cooperation The Alliance fosters a global referee network, facilitating collaboration and knowledge exchange between referees from Asia and other regions of the world.
Vision:
APRA is committed to becoming the driving force and standard-setter in the professional development of pickleball across Asia. By establishing a continent-wide referee education and certification system, APRA will continue to cultivate high-caliber officiating talent, strengthen tournament management frameworks, and promote pickleball as a bridge of health, friendship, and international cooperation.
In the future, APRA will work hand in hand with national sports organizations and international institutions to advance the widespread and high-quality development of pickleball in Asia, allowing the spirit of fairness, justice, professionalism, and honor to become the defining strength of Asia’s rise on the global pickleball stage.
WPF-GDC Expert Advisory Committee
Ms. Jiang, Nan
Ambassador For China Region Promotion,
Global Development Committee, World Pickleball Federation
Dr. Li, Guoping
Chief Expert of Sports-Medicine Integration,
Global Development Committee, World Pickleball Federation
Ms. Jiang Nan is a distinguished Chinese entrepreneur who has achieved remarkable accomplishments in the fields of construction, investment, education, and healthcare. With a strong commitment to driving social progress and industrial development, she has combined business success with a deep dedication to public welfare. Over the years, Ms. Jiang has invested in the establishment of several vocational schools to support the cultivation of young talent, while also promoting the upgrading and renovation of local hospitals to improve community healthcare services. She is not only a visionary business leader but also a philanthropist with a profound sense of social responsibility. In addition, Ms. Jiang has played an important role in the promotion of pickleball in China. Over the past two years, she has devoted herself to the development of this emerging sport, contributing significantly to the creation of a sound competition system and the popularization of health and wellness concepts among the public. Her pursuit of both business excellence and philanthropy fully demonstrates the responsibility and dedication of a new-generation Chinese woman entrepreneur.
Dr. Guoping Li is the former Director of the Institute of Sports Medicine of the General Administration of Sport of China, former President of the Sports Hospital of the General Administration of Sport, Chief Physician, Second-tier Professor, and Doctoral Supervisor. He is the Founding Chairman of the Sports Medicine Branch of the Chinese Medical Association (CSSM), current Chairman of the Sports Medicine Branch of the Chinese Association of Sports Science (CASM), President of the Chinese Academy of Exercise Rehabilitation Education (CAERE), former President of the Asian Federation of Sports Medicine (AFSM), Vice President of the International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS), core member of the Medical Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC-MC), and Honorary Editor-in-Chief of the Chinese Journal of Sports Medicine (CJSM).
Professor Guoping Li graduated from Peking Medical University in 1978 and studied and worked for nearly seven years in leading medical institutions such as the Mayo Clinic in the United States. He has been engaged in clinical work, scientific research, teaching, management, and service in the field of sports medicine for over 40 years. He has led numerous major national research projects, including the National Science and Technology Support Program, National Olympic Science and Technology Program, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. He has published over 150 academic papers in both Chinese and English in core journals and academic conferences at home and abroad, and has received multiple awards both nationally and internationally.
Over the years, Professor Li has made outstanding contributions to the development of sports medicine in China through his efforts in discipline building, education and training, academic exchange, and service to major events such as the Olympic Games. He enjoys broad social influence.