Richmond, VA – Performance Pickleball RVA is thrilled to announce the addition of Thaian Nguyen (Win) to the Performance Team in the role of Director of Pickleball.
Nguyen, one of the most respected figures in Virginia pickleball, will oversee all aspects of PPBRVA’s pickleball programming, including the instructional staff, leagues, clinics, tournaments and weekly court scheduling.
“When we started discussing creating Performance Pickleball RVA, the very first person we knew we needed on our team was Thaian,” said PPBRVA COO Jon Laaser. “His character in leading our pickleball program will set the tone for the entire brand, and there is no one even remotely close to matching what he brings to the team.”
Born in Vietnam and raised in Virginia, Nguyen grew up learning and playing table tennis and watching pro tennis with his father. Having a fondness for tennis, he would also later pick up playing the sport during his years as a student at the University of Virginia. It wasn’t until 2016, well after graduating from UVA, when he first discovered pickleball and made the transition from the tennis racket to the pickleball paddle.
“While it is very easy and normal to be excited about something so big like Performance Pickleball coming to RVA, I also feel very grateful and blessed to be part of the team that will bring something truly special to the area,” Nguyen said. “Especially in a sport and community that I’ve come to love so much.”
Despite having a limited background in ping pong and tennis, Nguyen has developed into a 5.0 pickleball player through both play and practice. In addition to teaching pickleball in the Richmond community over the last two years, Nguyen has also helped coordinate and run pickleball tournaments throughout Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia since 2020. Nguyen enjoys the fun, social and competitive nature of pickleball and is excited to bring those same elements to PPBRVA.
