The Hemşin Story
The journey of a training that began during summer holidays and reached tournament podiums within a year.
It all began during a summer holiday in the Hemşin district of Rize. After meeting the children of families who make their living largely by picking tea, Fahri Paslı decided to share pickleball — the sport he had played and taught for years in the United States — with these youngsters.
Training that started with paddles, balls and nets brought from America quickly bore fruit. A new court, opened with the District Governor's support, allowed the young athletes to train in better conditions.
Today Hemşin proudly carries the motto "big achievements from a small town" with its licensed athletes, the medals returning from tournaments and its growing community.
Fahri Paslı
Founding Coach · Coach Fahri
At the heart of this success story in Hemşin stands Fahri Paslı. "Coach Fahri" is the man who, after a long professional sports career, brought pickleball to Türkiye and to Hemşin.
- Professional Pickleball Coach (PPR)
- Member of the USA Pickleball Association
- Head of the Education Board of the Samsun Pickleball Association
His sporting life began years ago as one of the founders of ice hockey and inline (roller) hockey in Türkiye. He served as both a player and a coach on the national teams and was honoured with an Award of Appreciation for his outstanding work developing the sport. In the United States he coached the UNC Charlotte ice hockey team.
He first discovered pickleball in 2007 in North Carolina and went on to play in many regional and national American tournaments, winning medals. As a USA Pickleball member and professional coach (PPR), he began teaching the sport in both America and Türkiye, actively contributing to its growth across the country — especially in Ankara and Rize.
In the Hemşin district of Rize, he taught and instilled a love of the sport in young people who earn their living picking tea. Entirely with his own means, he travelled to many cities to hold seminars, school visits and exhibition matches. Today he continues, together with his valued friends, to spread pickleball through educational seminars, tournaments, university visits, exhibition matches and television programmes.
"Play Pickleball, Love Pickleball, Teach Pickleball!"
Kimberly Wright
Volunteer Coach
Kimberly Wright, the American volunteer coach of the Hemşin pickleball family, is one of the warmest faces of this story. Side by side with Fahri Paslı, she helped carry pickleball to Türkiye and to the mountain villages of Hemşin.
With the paddles, balls and nets she brought from the United States, she gave these children not only equipment but also her patience, her kindness and her boundless energy. The language barrier was never an obstacle — a smile, a "good job!" and hours spent together on the court built a strong bond between her and the children of Hemşin.
In 2023, together with Fahri Paslı and Mustafa Türk, she helped teach pickleball to nearly 400 people at the Afyon Open Prison, and she has been one of the volunteers behind promotion and training efforts across the country.
Today the children of Hemşin owe every paddle in their hands and every shot they have learned to Kimberly's devotion — and they love her dearly.
Two names in the children's hearts
Today the children of Hemşin owe the paddles in their hands, every shot they have learned and every medal they have won to two names: Fahri Paslı and Kimberly Wright. Without their patience, hard work and love, this story could never have been written. And the children return that love just as sincerely — which is why, in Hemşin, Fahri and Kimberly are not just coaches but family.
The strength behind the court
The coaching staff growing pickleball in Hemşin.
