Within just two weeks, D-Joy consecutively announced two strategic cooperation agreements with DUPR – a leading global ranking system and technology platform – and the University of Management and Technology Ho Chi Minh City (UMT).
The series of events not only demonstrates the rapid development of the D-Joy ecosystem, but also affirms its organizational and operational capabilities and long-term vision in the journey to professionalize the sports industry in Vietnam.
DUPR establishes its Asian headquarters in Vietnam through a strategic alliance with D-Joy
On April 24, 2026, in Ho Chi Minh City, D-Joy officially announced the upgrading of its strategic partnership with DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) – a ranking system considered a “common language” for assessing the skill level of pickleball players, with over 2 million users globally. A highlight is DUPR's choice of Vietnam as the location for its first representative office in Asia, situated within the D-Joy ecosystem.
This is considered a symbolic milestone, affirming Vietnam's increasingly important position on the global Pickleball map, and demonstrating D-Joy's pioneering role in professionalizing this sport in the region.
DUPR chose Vietnam as the location for its first headquarters in Asia, thanks to D-Joy's outstanding connections and organizational capabilities.
As part of this collaboration, DUPR becomes the sole ranking system applied to the entire D-Joy ecosystem globally. This greatly benefits the player community at D-Joy's courts and academies, providing them with a globally recognized "identification card" of their skill level.
Mr. Dang Quang Anh - Chairman of D-Joy (right) and Mr. Kevin Kim - Director of Operations at DUPR (left) tour the facilities at D-Joy.
The collaboration is implemented synchronously through several key platforms such as: the D-Joy Tour Tournament System (integrating DUPR data into all stages from Leg 1, Leg 2, Leg 3 to the prestigious Vietnam Masters tournament); the D-Joy Academy (a systematic training process that helps students from beginners to professional athletes have a clear progression path on the international scale); and in-depth data analysis (DUPR provides modern technical analysis tools for athletes participating in the D-Joy tournament system, helping to elevate the professional quality of Vietnamese pickleball).
Mr. Kevin Kim - DUPR's Chief Operating Officer, stated: “Asia is a key market and Vietnam is the heart of that development. We chose to locate our headquarters here because we have absolute confidence in D-Joy's operational capabilities and strategic vision.”
Mr. Dang Quang Anh - Chairman of D-Joy shared: “The combination of D-Joy's leading infrastructure and DUPR's standard technology will help Vietnamese athletes confidently conquer international arenas. This is also clear evidence of D-Joy's pioneering role in the professionalization of Pickleball.”
Cooperation with UMT: Expanding the practical ecosystem for the sports management industry
Following this, on May 7, 2026, D-Joy continued to sign a strategic cooperation agreement with the University of Management and Technology Ho Chi Minh City (UMT), marking a new development in its strategy to expand the business ecosystem, especially for the Sports Management industry.
D-Joy currently owns 3 key complexes in Tan Van, Thu Thiem, and South Saigon with a total of 76 international standard courts. This is the foundational infrastructure for D-Joy to launch professional sports activities on a continental scale.
Mr. Dang Quang Anh - Chairman of D-Joy (right) and Dr. Nguyen Canh Tuan - Vice Rector of UMT (left) perform the signing ceremony.
The highlight that defines the D-Joy brand is the D-Joy Tour tournament system with 4 large-scale stages, attracting a large number of international athletes and top stars to compete.
In particular, the Vietnam Masters stage is considered the "Grand Slam of Vietnam" - a place that brings together top-level performances and the most rigorous organizational standards. Simultaneously, the Junior Tour system with 6 consecutive stages has become a prestigious platform, contributing to building a long-term foundation for the development of the sport of Pickleball.
The signing ceremony between D-Joy and UMT marks a new development in their strategy to expand the business ecosystem, especially in the field of Sports Management.
According to the cooperation agreement, D-Joy and UMT will jointly implement several key activities, including: Connecting training with business practices; Organizing internships, practical training, and career experiences for students; Coordinating the organization of events, tournaments, and sports activities; Developing training programs and professional certifications; Expanding cooperation opportunities for many of UMT's training disciplines; Strengthening communication, branding, and community connections.
In addition, UMT will award scholarships to young athletes, demonstrating its long-term commitment to investing in and nurturing talents to compete internationally, aiming for the comprehensive and sustainable development of Vietnamese sports.
Affirming its position as a leading professional sports ecosystem
The consecutive signing of agreements with two major partners in the global sports technology and university education sectors shows that D-Joy is developing in a systematic, professional, and sustainable direction. Through strategic steps, D-Joy remains steadfast in its goal of taking Pickleball straight to the highest levels of competition, preparing for the SEA Games, ASIAD, and aiming for the Olympics.
While DUPR helps D-Joy elevate its technology, data, and international professional standards, UMT plays a crucial role in supplementing high-quality human resources for the future of sports. These two pieces contribute to completing the comprehensive ecosystem that D-Joy is building – from infrastructure, tournaments, training, operation, to community connections.
Not stopping at developing a sport, D-Joy is gradually participating in the formation of a modern sports economy in Vietnam – where sports are operated as a professional, internationally integrated industry.