Jean Rayiru starred in an historic week for pickleball at a record-breaking Skechers English OPEN.

Retired PE teacher Rayiru, 67, featured in the English Open at the Telford International Centre – the largest pickleball event taking place outside of North America.

With ages from 7 to 70+ competing, the event is reflective of the incredible growth in pickleball over recent years, with a record number of almost 2,000 players from 42 countries participating in a sport which has aspirations of making the Olympic programme.

“It’s been brilliant here. A bit scary as it’s my first ever tournament and it took three weeks to persuade me to play because at first I said: ‘No, I don’t want to do it. I just want to play for fun,’” said Leighton Buzzard's Rayiru.

“Eventually I said yes, so my friend entered me, but then she had a knee problem and couldn’t play so I have a random partner.

“I have an amazing partner (Sue Chapman) who I’d never met before and I’ve really enjoyed it.

“We had an American lady in our group, everybody has been really friendly and being here has given me the chance to meet new people. It’s a very friendly tournament.”

This year’s English OPEN comprised seven days of high-level competition, with the world’s top professionals from America, Europe and Asia taking to the court in singles, doubles, mixed, wheelchair and junior events.

A hybrid of tennis, badminton & table tennis, the sport’s popularity has been attributed to its accessibility. Easy to pick up and fun to play, the sport’s accessibility transcends demographics, providing it with universal appeal.

“A friend of mine suggested we should have a go – she’d played a lot of tennis and she wanted to go – so for her birthday I bought her a session on the pickleball court,” added Rayiru.

“That was last October and since then we’ve been hooked.”

Pickleball England has announced a record number of players competing at this year’s English OPEN from the 8th-14th August at the Telford International Centre in the largest pickleball event taking place outside of the USA EVER – visit pickleballengland.org