14-year-old Rain Isabella Astaño’s pickleball career began just seven months ago. On August 30, it reaches a far bigger stage.
The Dubai-raised Filipino teenager will represent the Philippines in the junior category at the Pickleball World Cup in Da Nang, Vietnam, from August 30 to September 6, marking a significant step in her career that recently saw her reach the quarterfinals of an international tournament in Thailand.
The World Cup will offer a vastly different test. Around 5,000 athletes from 81 countries are expected in Da Nang, placing Astaño in one of the biggest competitive fields of her young career.
For Astaño, however, the tournament carries significance beyond the result. Born and raised in Dubai to Filipino parents, she sees the World Cup as an opportunity to represent both the country of her roots and the place that shaped her as an athlete.
“I’m proud that I can represent my Filipino roots while also representing the UAE as the place where I grew up, learned, trained, and developed as an athlete,” she was quoted as saying by Gulf News.
The UAE’s multicultural pickleball environment has played a central role in that development. Astaño has trained and competed against players of different nationalities, ages and skill levels, including adults with considerably more experience.
“The UAE has taught me to dream bigger and not be afraid to compete internationally,” she said.
She, meanwhile, viewed her first international tournament as a valuable learning experience, particularly in handling pressure and adapting to unfamiliar opponents.
“My first international tournament in Thailand taught me a lot about handling pressure, adjusting to unfamiliar opponents, and staying focused on court,” she said.
Her preparation for Da Nang has focused on training, strategy, fitness and the mental demands of international competition. Yet, despite the scale of the event, Astaño has set herself a measured target.
“I want to go there prepared, enjoy the experience, learn from every match and give my best,” she said.
Strong Filipino connection
Her connection to both communities is equally important to her. “I feel lucky to be part of both communities. The Filipino community gives me a strong sense of family, encouragement, and pride in where I come from. At the same time, the UAE is my home and the place where I have grown as a player,” she said.
She is particularly proud to be “a young Filipina athlete developed here in the UAE.”
Her mother, Pier Angeli, has witnessed that progression since the family moved to the UAE in 2006. She credits the country’s diverse sporting community, including coaches, players and friends, for helping Rain develop.
“We have watched Rain continue to show up, work harder, and keep believing,” she said. “The Philippines will always be her roots; the UAE is the home that gave her the opportunity to grow.”
Philippine Consul General in Dubai Ambrosio Enciso III also congratulated Astaño, saying her journey demonstrates how young Filipinos abroad can maintain their connection with the Philippines while benefiting from the communities where they grow up.
“Rain’s journey shows how young Filipinos abroad can remain deeply connected to the Philippines while drawing strength and opportunity from the communities in which they grow,” Enciso said.
As Astaño prepares for her World Cup debut, she hopes her story encourages other young athletes to begin early.
“You don’t have to wait until you are older to start chasing something you love,” she said.