Many young kids dream of growing up and representing their country in the Olympics, World Cup or any worldwide tournament. What most probably don’t picture is doing it while in their 60s.
For Fremont pickleballer Allan Avila, that’s the opportunity awaiting him in only a few weeks.
Avila was an avid tennis player when he attended James Logan High School, and he continued to play recreationally into his young adulthood. So, it wasn’t much of a surprise when he traded a racket for a paddle during the “Covid years.” But his passion for the game didn’t stop when he left the court. He was part of a group of players who advocated for more pickleball courts in Fremont.
“We started to push the City of Fremont to establish more pickleball courts,” said Avila.
“There was a group that formed, a number of us who were constantly trying to get the [Recreation] Department to get courts in, and slowly that’s what happened.”
Although he’s been in the local pickleball scene for years, Avila had never joined tournaments. But, that changed when one of his friends told him about a pickleball tournament in the Philippines—Avila’s birth country—that aligned with a vacation he was already planning.
“I have a birth certificate from the Philippines, I was born there, so I could qualify. Why not? All the stars were aligning,” said Avila.
Since he had just turned 60, he felt confident being in the older age group. “Being the youngest in the age group tends to have its advantages,” said Avila with a laugh.
The Philippine Pickleball Amateur Nationals took place from March 28 to March 30. Avila entered the singles and mixed doubles categories with a female partner he was paired with.
In the mixed doubles, he and his teammate Gloria Pequiras won bronze. Two days later after competing in four games in the singles category, Avila won the gold in the 60+ Division.
Even with his bronze and gold medal wins, Avila was most excited about the people he met during the experience. “I made some really good friends, partly because the lady partner who agreed to play with me was very well connected,” said Avila. “I even got to meet the federation president.”
After his experience, Avila, for all intents and purposes, thought his international playing had wrapped up.
“It was a good experience overall. I thought that was great, and went back home,” said Avila. “I knew they were thinking about using the amateur national tournament as a way to determine who could go to these world tournaments, but I figured, that’s really going to be for the younger, main age group.”
Then he received a message from one of the players he met in Manila.
“All of a sudden,” said Avila, “the friend who I played singles against, shot me a message and said, ‘The president of the [Phillipine Pickleball Federation] wants to invite you to represent the Philippines at the World Cup.’”
The Pickleball World Cup is a week-long tournament, held this year in Da Vang, Vietnam. It’s expected to host 4,000 athletes from 80 countries and territories from Aug. 30 to Sept. 6.
Although he was apprehensive, after some more research and encouragement from his wife Eunice, Avila decided to accept the invitation.
Avila has already met his division team over a Zoom call and plans to meet them in person in Manila before the tournament to get a chance to practice together. Since the Philippines National Team only covers admission fees and uniforms, part of Avila’s preparation for the tournament has been creating a GoFundMe to help cover the cost of his flights, accommodation and meals.
With the Pickleball World Cup tournament only weeks away, Avila is excited about the unique experience that awaits him, but even more to share the journey with the close-knit pickleball community that he’s built over the years.
“It feels nice to share this with those who know me, partly because I’ve been involved, even in the early stages, of Fremont’s pickleball scene,” said Avila. “I’m kind of embedded in it locally. I do feel proud to bring a little representation to the Bay Area.”
To donate to Allan Avila’s GoFundMe, visit gofundme.com/f/support-my-pickleball-world-cup-journey-y8d3g
