Last updated on September 14, 2025
Kuala Lumpur, 13 September 2025 – Bursa Malaysia is breaking new ground by combining financial literacy and sport in a way never seen before. The Burmon x Pickleball Tournament 2025, held at KWC Pickleball Stadium, is more than a student competition. It is a vision for how Malaysia’s next generation can grow both smarter and stronger.
The initiative brings together Bursa Malaysia’s Burmon Trader platform, a financial simulation that teaches money management and investment skills, with Pickleball, one of the fastest-rising sports worldwide. It is designed to nurture students who are as confident in financial decision-making as they are in teamwork and fitness.
Building Smarter, Stronger Students
The programme is built around three clear outcomes. The first is to instill financial literacy and money management skills. The second is to foster intellectual competitiveness and strategic thinking through the Burmon platform. The third is to encourage healthy and active lifestyles through Pickleball participation.
Through this initiative, Bursa Malaysia hopes to inspire secondary school students to become responsible and informed investors, while also showing them that financial learning can be complemented by fun and inclusive physical activity.
Pickleball, with its easy-to-learn rules and inclusive nature, is positioned as the physical counterpart to the intellectual challenge of Burmon. Together they reflect the idea that discipline, resilience and decision-making apply equally to finance and sport.
“Pickleball has quickly become one of the most exciting trending sports in Malaysia, attracting both the young and the old. It is a fun, easy-to-learn game with a more relaxed pace compared to many other sports, making it highly inclusive. Beyond the competition, Pickleball creates a vibrant platform for socializing. We have seen players form genuine friendships on and off the court. Our goal is to expand this spirit further by reaching schools across Malaysia and introducing Pickleball to students nationwide.”
— Eddie Wong, Tournament Director
Wealth and health move together
Parents are also recognising the programme’s impact, seeing in it the chance to connect two crucial aspects of growth.
“I believe there is a strong connection between money matters and sports, as both require discipline. Wealth and health must go hand in hand and neither can truly exist without the other. With good health, we develop a clearer mind and greater efficiency, which in turn leads to better financial judgment. This is why I strongly feel that such programmes should be introduced from the primary school level, giving students the foundation they need from an early stage.”
— Lim Su San, parent of a 15-year-old participant
Why Bursa Malaysia is Backing the Initiative
The Burmon x Pickleball Tournament follows a call by Youth and Sports Minister YB Hannah Yeoh in March 2025, encouraging corporate partners to support the Ministry’s Pickleball CSR efforts. Bursa’s support also aligns with national priorities.
The MADANI values emphasise sustainability and innovation. The National Sports Vision 2030 focuses on grassroots development and aims to position Malaysia as a sporting powerhouse. By combining Pickleball with Burmon, Bursa is sending a strong signal that financial literacy is not an isolated skill but part of a holistic approach to national development.
The inaugural edition
The tournament will involve 12 schools across Selangor, Putrajaya, and Kuala Lumpur, with a total of 480 students set to participate.
Participating schools:
- SMK Wangsa Melawati
- SMK (L) Methodist Sentul
- SMK Cheras
- SMK Seri Tanjung
- SMK Putrajaya Presint 9(2)
- SMK USJ 13
- SMK Bandar Utama DAMANSARA 3
- SMK Putrajaya Presint 9(1)
- SMK Putrajaya Presint 18(1)
- SMK Kapar (P)
- SMK USJ 12
- SMK Victoria Institution
Participation is free, ensuring equal opportunity for all students regardless of background. While this year’s initiative is focused on the Klang Valley, future editions may expand nationwide.
The programme is divided into two stages. The pre-qualifying and training session was held on September 13, followed by the main tournament on September 23 at KWC Pickleball Stadium. This structure gives students the chance to not only compete but also to learn and prepare in a meaningful way.
“We really enjoyed the training and are so excited to know we’ve been pre-qualified for the tournament! It was a lot of fun, and we even made new friends through Pickleball. We’d love to have more sessions like this again in the future.”
— Inarah & Quxandria, student and participant
Planting the spark for the future
Although the long-term impact will take time to measure, Bursa Malaysia believes the initiative could spark a financial literacy movement among young Malaysians. Early exposure to investing knowledge and economic concepts may help prepare students to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s growth. This tournament could spark the beginning of a financial literacy movement among Malaysian youths.
More than a tournament
The Burmon x Pickleball Tournament 2025 is not simply about winning medals on the court. It is about shaping students who will carry forward lessons of balance, strategy and discipline into their lives.
By combining finance and sport into a single programme, Bursa Malaysia has created more than a student event. It has created a model for developing the next generation of leaders who are financially savvy, physically active and ready to meet the challenges of the future.
Burmon Game
Burmon is a fun learning game by Bursa Malaysia that teaches the basics of investing. Players collect and trade “Burmons,” whose values go up and down like stocks.
The game helps students and beginners understand how the stock market works, showing the importance of smart decisions, discipline, and balancing risk and reward—all in a playful and easy way.
Link: https://my.bursamalaysia.com/burmon/
Exclusive reported by The Ledger Asia
