Vincent Chaves and Jose Barosa put Bermuda on the podium in the build-up to the Heineken Pickleball World Cup, securing silver medals in Da Nang, Vietnam.

The pair battled through to the final in the amateur men’s doubles 4.0 50+, in which they met Singapore’s Irfan Zack and Siang Sze Keong. Chaves and Barosa pushed hard but fell short in the title decider, taking second place.

A silver medal is a bright spot for a smaller than usual Bermuda contingent this year. Chaves and Barosa are joined in Vietnam by Emma Simmons, Natalie Chaves and Edgar Griffith.

Nearly 5,000 athletes from more than 80 countries are competing at the World Cup. Bermuda’s numbers are down from previous editions with the island having sent 14 players to the inaugural World Cup in Lima, Peru in 2024 and 17 to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the following year.

On this occasion, Pickleball Association Bermuda secretary Sarah Fox indicated that the long trip to Vietnam deterred several players who would usually make the journey.

Despite the smaller squad, Fox was encouraged by the early medal. With the main World Cup events still to come, the rest of the team will look to add to Bermuda’s tally on the global stage.