presented by
— First APP event in the Tohoku region —
APP ASIA
Qualifier Series
SENDAI 2026
September 18 (Fri) – 20 (Sun), 2026
Motoyama Seisakusho Aoba Arena Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
[Revised August 21, 2026] The entry period for the PRO categories has been extended. The deadline is now 19:59 on Monday, August 31 (JST), the same day as the Amateur categories. Pairs that entered by 23:59 on Friday, August 21 are confirmed; entries received on or after Saturday, August 22 are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and close in each category as soon as the open PRO places are filled.
[Revised August 15, 2026] The scope of the DUPR rating cap has changed. The guidelines published on August 14 applied the cap to all Amateur categories. The cap applies to the 19+ categories only. There is no DUPR cap in the 35+ and 50+ age categories.
Please note: This page also differs in part from the categories and provisional schedule announced earlier. In particular, the days on which the PRO categories are played have changed. Please read this page carefully before entering.
Tournament at a glance
PRO prize money
Across three PRO categories
Draw capacity
PRO 76 ／ Amateur 136
Categories
PRO 3 ／ Amateur 9
Outline
| Tournament | THE SUPER SPORTS XEBIO APP ASIA Qualifier Series SENDAI 2026 |
|---|---|
| Organizer | Pickleball Japan Federation |
| Dates | Friday, September 18 – Sunday, September 20, 2026 |
| Venue | Motoyama Seisakusho Aoba Arena 1-1-5 Tsutsumimachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 981-0912, Japan |
| Prize money | JPY 1,560,000 in total, PRO categories |
| Surface |
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| Ranking points |
|
| Awards | 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each category Awards and prizes may change depending on the number of entries in each category. |
| Draw release | Published on Tournated after entries close. |
| Contact | Pickleball Japan Federation office@japanpickleball.org |
Schedule
Amateur categories are played on different days. Please check the day of your event before entering.
Friday, September 18 Play starts at 13:00
Amateur
Men’s Doubles 50+：16 teams
Women’s Doubles 50+：16 teams
PRO official practice (time TBC)
Play starts in the afternoon to allow for venue set-up.
Saturday, September 19 9:00–20:00
PRO Rounds 1–2 and consolation in all three categories
Men’s Doubles PRO：24 teams
Women’s Doubles PRO：24 teams
Mixed Doubles PRO：28 teams
Amateur
Mixed Doubles 19+：16 teams
Mixed Doubles 35+：16 teams
Mixed Doubles 50+：16 teams
Sunday, September 20 9:00–19:00
PRO Quarter-finals through finals in all three categories
Men’s Doubles PRO ／ Women’s Doubles PRO ／ Mixed Doubles PRO
Amateur
Men’s Doubles 19+：16 teams ／ Men’s Doubles 35+：12 teams
Women’s Doubles 19+：16 teams ／ Women’s Doubles 35+：12 teams
Times above are provisional. Start times for each category will be published once confirmed.
Age is counted as of September 18, 2026.
Entrants of high-school age and under must have parental consent.
Prize money
Awarded in Men’s Doubles PRO, Women’s Doubles PRO and Mixed Doubles PRO.
| Place | Prize (per team) |
|---|---|
| 1st | JPY 300,000 |
| 2nd | JPY 160,000 |
| 3rd | JPY 60,000 |
Amounts are per team, in each category.
Draw sizes and eligibility
Who can enter
- Players who meet the age requirement of their category, as of the first day of the tournament.
PJ player registration is not required. You may enter whether or not you are registered.
Please note: At the request of APP, players who enter a PRO category but do not secure a place may not then enter an Amateur category.
PRO categories
To protect the standard of play and the quality of the event as an international tournament, PRO places are allocated as follows. Only the open PRO places are offered for entry.
| Category | Draw | International & organizer picks | Open PRO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men’s Doubles PRO | 24 | 6 | 18 |
| Women’s Doubles PRO | 24 | 6 | 18 |
| Mixed Doubles PRO | 28 | 6 | 22 |
Pairs that entered by 23:59 on Friday, August 21 hold a confirmed place. Entries received on or after Saturday, August 22 are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Entries close in each category as soon as the open PRO places are filled.
With the extension, places are no longer decided by combined DUPR rating as originally announced.
A payment form is sent individually once your entry is confirmed. Results are notified separately.
Players who do not secure a PRO place cannot transfer to an Amateur category.
International and organizer picks (wild cards) are decided by the organizer.
Amateur categories
To keep the PRO and Amateur fields clearly separated, a DUPR rating cap applies to the 19+ categories only. Players above the cap should enter a PRO category.
| Men’s Doubles 19+ | Each player’s DUPR doubles rating must be 4.2 or under |
|---|---|
| Women’s Doubles 19+ | Each player’s DUPR doubles rating must be 4.0 or under |
| Mixed Doubles 19+ | Each player’s DUPR doubles rating must be 4.0 or under |
| Acceptance | First come, first served |
The DUPR cap applies to the 19+ categories only. There is no DUPR cap in the 35+ and 50+ age categories.
Note that Mixed Doubles 19+ is 4.0 or under for both men and women.
For Amateur categories, DUPR ratings are taken at the time of entry.
Fees and registration
| Entry fee |
|
|---|---|
| How to enter |
|
| Payment | Credit card Amateur: the entry fee and system fee are paid on the Tournated entry screen. PRO: the entry fee and payment handling fee are paid through the payment form sent after your entry is confirmed. |
| Entry period PRO |
Monday, August 17, 9:00 – Monday, August 31, 19:59 (JST) (extended from Friday, August 21, 23:59) Entries made by 23:59 on Friday, August 21 are confirmed. From Saturday, August 22, places are first come, first served and close in each category as soon as the open PRO places are filled. Payment forms are sent in turn as entries are confirmed. Forms are sent to the email address you register with, so please check your mail settings. |
| Entry period Amateur |
Monday, August 17, 20:00 – Monday, August 31, 19:59 (JST) |
| Payment deadline PRO |
Payment forms are sent as entries are confirmed. Entered by 23:59 on Friday, August 21: pay by Tuesday, August 25, 23:59 (JST). Entered on or after Saturday, August 22: pay by Wednesday, September 2, 23:59 (JST). Your place is confirmed on payment. If payment is not received by the deadline, the entry is treated as withdrawn and the place is released for entry again. Entry fees are not refunded once paid. |
| Cancellation deadline Amateur |
Monday, August 31, 19:59 (JST) System and handling fees are charged and are not refunded, even if you withdraw within the cancellation period. After the cancellation deadline, the full entry fee is payable and is not refunded. The timing of any refund depends on your card issuer. |
Match format
Format
PRO
- Single elimination, with a consolation draw
- Main draw: best of three games to 11, win by 2
- Consolation: one game to 15, win by 2
Amateur
- Round robin: one game to 11, win by 2
- Main draw: one game to 15, win by 2
- The top two teams from each round-robin group advance to the main draw (single elimination).
Depending on the number of entries, some categories may be round robin only.
Officiating
- PRO: referees are assigned from the semi-finals onwards.
- Amateur: referees are assigned to the placement matches (3rd place and final).
- All other matches are self-officiated.
- A head referee is on site. Any dispute over a call or over the running of play is settled by the head referee, whose decision is final.
Balls and paddles
- PRO ball: Franklin X-40 (lime green)
- Amateur ball: Franklin X-26 (lime green)
- Paddles: USAP (USA Pickleball) approved, or UPA-A (United Pickleball Association of America) certified
Please check the current approved lists on the respective official websites.
Rules and score corrections
- The tournament follows the PJ recommended conduct and rules, which are based on the regulations of USA Pickleball.
- If a result is recorded incorrectly, please contact the organizer within one week of the tournament (by Sunday, September 27, 2026, 23:59 JST).
- Contact: office@japanpickleball.org
Requests after that date cannot be accepted. Results are final once the period closes and are then reflected in the rankings.
Venue and access
The venue is within walking distance of the station. Travelling by train is recommended.
- VENUE
- Motoyama Seisakusho Aoba Arena
- ADDRESS
- 1-1-5 Tsutsumimachi, Aoba-ku,
Sendai, Miyagi 981-0912, Japan - TRAIN
-
Sendai Subway Namboku Line, Kita-Sendai Station
5 min walk from Exit Kita 2
JR Senzan Line, Kita-Sendai Station approx. 10 min walk - BUS
-
Sendai City Bus: Daihara-iriguchi, Kita-Sendai Eki or Hayamacho stop 5 min walk
Miyagi Kotsu Bus: Daihara-iriguchi or Kita-Sendai Eki stop 5 min walk
Parking
- There is no dedicated parking for participants.
- Paid car parks are available nearby, but spaces are limited.
Important notes
Cancellation and changes
- The tournament may be cancelled or altered due to severe weather, earthquake or other disaster, the spread of infectious disease, venue circumstances or other unavoidable reasons.
- If the organizer cancels the entire tournament before it begins, entry fees are refunded less system and payment handling fees.
- No refund is given if the tournament is cancelled, suspended or shortened after play has begun.
- No refund is given for non-participation due to personal circumstances such as travel disruption or illness.
- Where a refund applies, the timing depends on your card issuer.
DUPR
- A DUPR account is required in order to compete. You may be asked to show your rating.
- Ratings are taken at the time of entry for both PRO and Amateur categories. DUPR doubles ratings are used in both cases.
- If your rating is provisional, please self-rate in line with the rating guidelines.
Paddles
- Only USAP or UPA-A certified models may be used. Paddles without a printed mark showing either certification cannot be used.
- If a paddle remains certified but carries no mark, you must present documentation confirming this.
Categories
- “+” means “aged and over”. For example, a 55-year-old may enter 50+, 35+ or 19+.
- Entrants of high-school age and under must submit a parental consent form at check-in. The form is sent to those concerned once their entry is confirmed.
- If a category has fewer than four entries, its round robin may be merged with another age category. Placement matches are still played within the original category.
Safety and insurance
- Only first aid is provided for injuries and accidents during play.
- Medical staff are on site.
- The organizer holds recreational activity insurance.
- Neither the venue nor the organizer is liable for accidents or theft.
- Liability for damages rests with the party at fault.
Photography and image rights
- Rights to images and footage taken during the tournament belong to the organizer.
- If you film or publish your own matches, you must obtain your opponents’ permission.
On the day
- You may be asked to change clothing that is close in colour to the ball.
- Please follow the instructions of tournament officials and referees.
- All players are treated equally.
The regulations may be amended in part as circumstances require.
Sponsors
Title Sponsor
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be a registered PJ player?
Can I enter both a PRO and an Amateur category?
I have entered an Amateur category. Can I move to a PRO category?
Why is there a DUPR cap on the 19+ categories?
How are PRO places decided?
Can Amateur entrants move up to a PRO category?
The PRO entry fee shows as JPY 0. Is it free?
Which paddles may I use?
Is there parking at the venue?
Enter the tournament
PRO：August 17 (Mon) 9:00 – August 31 (Mon) 19:59 JST (extended)
Amateur：August 17 (Mon) 20:00 – August 31 (Mon) 19:59 JST
Entries are taken on Tournated. PRO entries made by 23:59 on Friday, August 21 are confirmed; from Saturday, August 22 places are first come, first served. Payment forms are sent in turn as entries are confirmed.
Go to entry page (Tournated)Before entries open, the Tournated page shows a countdown to the opening time.
If you have already entered an Amateur category and would like to move to a PRO category, please contact office@japanpickleball.org.
Download the regulations (PDF, Japanese)
Contact：office@japanpickleball.org