17/08/2026
Hughes, Woo Claim Silver in PPA Tour Asia Vietnam; Hughes Bags Another in Mixed Doubles
By AGM Marlon Bernardino
Gearbox top players Diana Hughes and Grace Woo captured silver in Women’s Doubles 35+ at the PPA Tour Asia Vietnam tournament, while Hughes added another silver medal in Mixed Doubles 35+ with Davis Alano.
The result extended the impressive medal-winning run of the Hughes-Woo tandem, which has consistently reached the podium in their recent tournaments together.
Hughes and Woo previously won silver in WPC Bangkok in May, followed by gold in Ormoc in June. In July, the pair added bronze in PPA Singapore before capturing gold at the PPL Visayas Open in Dumaguete.
Their silver-medal finish in Vietnam adds another podium result to the duo's growing medal haul and highlights their consistency against strong competition on the regional pickleball circuit.
For Hughes, the Vietnam tournament was particularly productive, as she secured a second silver in Mixed Doubles 35+ with Davis Alano.
The Women’s Doubles final also provided a special moment for Philippine pickleball, as Hughes and Woo faced fellow Filipina Macy Ybanez, who teamed up with an ace player from Vietnam.
“I’m really happy and proud to see another Filipina competing in the finals. Hughes said. “Seeing Filipinas competing at this level and representing our country so well is something we should all be proud of. It also shows the depth of talent we have among Filipina pickleball players. There are so many strong players coming up, and I’m excited to see how far Philippine pickleball can go.”
Woo said the pair remained proud of their performance and the progress they have made together.
“Diana and I are very happy with the silver. Of course, we always want to win, but we’re proud of how we competed and fought through the tournament,” Woo said. “We’ve been fortunate to have the support of our coaches, sponsors and everyone who has been part of our journey. Every tournament gives us an opportunity to learn, improve and compete against some of the best players in the region.”
The Hughes-Woo tandem is supported by Gearbox, Alset Gearbox Pickleball, Universal Paint Brook Knight Leagues (BKL) and
Pickleball Central Philippines (PCPH) , which has served as the training base of Hughes and Woo under the guidance of Coach Amiel Sarion,
Hughes’ individual sponsors include Wilson, HOO Dermatology, Rexona, Immuni+ and Salonpas.
With another silver added to their collection, Hughes and Woo continue to establish themselves as a consistent podium-finishing tandem on the regional pickleball circuit. For Hughes, her two-silver performance in Vietnam adds another highlight to a strong 2026 campaign and further showcases the growing depth of Filipino talent in competitive pickleball.
