Pickleball’s Youth Movement in China: Pickleball is rapidly gaining popularity in China, where the sport was introduced over a decade ago. As it grows in the U.S., China is now making strides to compete in this emerging global sport. With its history of dominating racket sports, China is not falling behind.
Pickleball’s Growth in China
China has already started promoting pickleball at the university level, with Baoding in Hebei Province leading the way. Last November, 300 players from over 16 regions competed in various categories, including singles and doubles.
“Baoding is seizing the opportunity to promote the faster and better development of pickleball,” said Meng Yingli, deputy director of the Baoding Sports Bureau.
“enhance the growth of the sports industry, and provide diversified fitness options for the public. We aim to lay the foundation for establishing Baoding as a stronghold for pickleball in northern China.” – (Meng Yingli)
The city aims to establish itself as a pickleball hub in northern China. Lanzhou University in Gansu Province was among the first institutions to adopt pickleball three years ago, laying the groundwork for its growth in the region.
Organized Competitions and Infrastructure
The administrative structure for pickleball in China is taking shape, with the launch of the China Pickleball Circuit, a series of national-level tour events. This is organized by the Small Ball Sports Management Centre under China’s General Administration of Sport and the Pickleball Sports Working Committee. The sport’s popularity is rising because of its low entry barrier, quick learning curve, flexible court requirements, and social aspects.
Youth Engagement and Community Interest
In Baiyin City, Gansu Province, pickleball is gaining traction among the youth. Wang Chen, a 28-year-old staff member from the State Grid, started playing pickleball in February and is excited about its team-building benefits.
“I watched some pickleball videos last month, and it is an interesting sport.” – (Wang told Xinhua)
“More and more staff will love this sport.” – (Wang)
To support their growing interest, Wang and her colleagues refurbished an old badminton court into a pickleball facility. Lanzhou University has seen student interest grow since forming a pickleball association, with over 230 members attending training sessions. Zhao Fang, a teacher in the sports department, highlighted the joy of continuous improvement and making friends through the sport.
“The biggest joy is that everyone can improve continuously and make friends through this sport.” – (Zhao)
Future Potential
At the current rate, China plans to build over 10,000 pickleball courts and expects to have 100 million players within five years. This growth could potentially surpass the U.S. in player engagement.
Pickleball, which started as a backyard pastime in America, is now sparking excitement in China, showing that pickleball fever truly knows no borders.
News in Brief: Pickleball’s Youth Movement in China
Pickleball is rapidly gaining popularity in China, with efforts to establish it in universities and communities. The sport’s surge is supported by organized competitions and community engagement, with projections of 100 million players in five years, potentially surpassing the U.S. in participation.
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