An iconic moment from PPA Tour Asia's Panas Malaysia Cup is being recognized on the global stage.

The men’s doubles gold medal celebration has been selected as a finalist in the 2026 World Sports Photography Awards.

The World Sports Photography Awards is the most prestigious sports photography competition, judged by leading figures from sports, media, photography, and creative industries.

The 2026 edition proved to be competitive yet, with over 23,000 images from 4,100 photographers across more than 123 countries around the globe.

Tournament photographer Ashok Kumar’s shot earned finalist status in the Racquet Sports category. That moment came during the match between Tyson McGuffin and Eric Oncins and Ben Johns and Christian Alshon. 

McGuffin and Oncins took the championship 11-5, 13-15, 11-9.

The photograph captures pure celebration – McGuffin and Oncins have just won a blockbuster point, and in the same instant, both players launch their paddles skyward. The equipment hangs frozen in the frame as raw emotion and athletic intensity are distilled into a single moment.

The recognition marks a significant milestone for pickleball photography on the global stage, with the sport represented among the world’s elite sporting imagery.

Winners will be announced in January.