Kai Manders Set For Pickleball World Cup
[Written by Stephen Wright]
A GoFundMe page has been launched to help send six-year-old Kai Manders, the son of Gavin Manders, Bermuda’s most decorated tennis player, to the Pickleball World Cup in Lima, Peru, next month.
Kai, who competes in the junior category, has been named in the Bermuda squad for the competition, which runs from October 26 to 28.
His father, Gavin, who has the most wins for Bermuda at the Davis Cup tennis event, is the national director of pickleball.
The fundraising page, set up by Gavin, has raised $2,195 of the $3,000 target.
“We’ve been helping the players look at ways to raise their own funds,” Manders told Bernews.
“It’s a big financial burden on the family, so I thought I’d set up a GoFundMe page for Kai – it helps makes things like this a reality.”
The GoFundMe page reads: “This year, the Pickleball World Cup introduces junior divisions, giving Kai his first chance to compete internationally against peers his age.
“Participating in the World Cup would be a significant milestone, offering Kai invaluable experience and exposure.
“This event is part of pickleball’s initiative to nurture young talent, making it a phenomenal opportunity for Kai and Bermuda to showcase his skills on the global stage.”
Manders said the funds raised will go towards Kai’s travel, accommodation, fees and equipment.
“We are seeking your generous support to help cover these costs and enable Kai to represent Bermuda internationally,” the GoFundMe page added.
“This experience will be Kai’s first international competition, serving as a stepping stone for future achievements and inspiring other young athletes in Bermuda to pursue their dreams.”
Representing the island in the open elite men’s division at the competition are Gavin, Benjamin Jones, Alvaro Triana, and Jasper Thomas.
Jaden Jones and Kai are the junior options. Jones has been selected as part of the PAB [Pickleball Bermuda] junior initiative.
Sasha Fisher, Melisa Judd and Imani Phillips will compete in the open elite women’s division.
The senior men’s division consists of Mark Cordeiro, Michael Way, Stuart Smith, and George Thomas; meanwhile, Tori Powell, Christine Todd, Sarah Fox and Val Stevenson will compete in the senior women’s division.
Bermuda will be among 27 nations in the elite division and 16 in the senior division, including countries such as the United States, Brazil, China and regional counterparts the Bahamas and the Cayman Islands.
Selection for the World Cup was based on players’ performances in international and local tournaments, their Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating [DUPR] and results from the two national trials held on March 17 and June 9.
