Making a racket about pickleball

In the historical area of Xunxian county in Hebi, Henan province, dazzling lights and the sound of drums filled the air around the 600-year-old city wall. With the help of modern lighting and visual effects, a spectacular live show delivered an audiovisual feast, blending deep cultural heritage with youthful energy.

This unique performance marked the opening ceremony of the 2025 Li-Ning Cup National Pickleball Championships. Held at the end of September, the event reflected pickleball's rapid rise in China, with increasingly standardized competitions, growing participation and expanding connections with industries such as culture and tourism.

Many people in China may still be unfamiliar with pickleball, though they might have seen pictures or courts: the paddle is larger than a table tennis racket, but smaller than a tennis racket, the ball is a perforated plastic one, and the court is roughly the size of a badminton court.

Originating in the United States in the 1960s, the sport has exploded in popularity globally in recent years, thanks to its accessibility and social nature. It is widely seen as the fastest-growing emerging racket sport.

In China, pickleball's history is short. It was only in 2024 that the Chinese Tennis Association officially launched a national pickleball competition system. Just one year later, the sport has already found a bigger stage.

The four-day national championships in Hebi featured both team and individual events, drawing 311 athletes from 25 teams across the country. The tournament not only showcased the diversity and competitive appeal of pickleball, but also provided athletes with a broad platform to demonstrate their skills.

One such player is Liu Miao, a physical education teacher and mixed doubles athlete for the Beijing team. He only started playing pickleball in 2023, but quickly fell in love with it.

"Pickleball has a low barrier to entry — you can play on a badminton court, it's easy to learn and it doesn't demand as much physical stamina. People of all ages can enjoy it," Liu said. His Beijing squad includes players as young as 22 and as old as 50.

As pickleball continues to spread in China, it is winning fans spanning generations. "There are so many pickleball tournaments now — I practically have a match every week," Liu said.

The choice of Hebi as host was no coincidence. In 2023, the city introduced pickleball and, with the support of the Henan provincial sports bureau, positioned it as a key development sport.

In just two years, Hebi has built more than 800 courts, trained over 260 professional coaches and referees, and inspired more than 120,000 residents to play, making it a new trend in nationwide fitness.

According to Mayor Li Ke, Hebi has become both a "pioneer" and a "model city "for pickleball in Henan province. Beyond hosting national championships and international exhibitions, Hebi has built a grassroots competition system featuring municipal open tournaments, county-level championships, and community-based events.

"Pickleball is gradually becoming a new lifestyle for local residents," Li said.

Over the past two years, Hebi has adopted a dual approach of "bringing in talent and sending people out". The city has also pioneered a "campus-plus-professional" dual-track model, with more than 70,000 young participants building a solid grassroots base for the sport.

Li noted that pickleball has not only ignited citizens' enthusiasm for exercise, but also become a "new calling card" for Hebi's urban identity.

Looking ahead, the city plans to further improve venues, cultivate professional talent and strengthen industry integration, making pickleball a driver of high-quality development.

Hebi also showcased its meticulous preparation — what locals call "embroidery skills" — from event organization and cultural-tourism services, to atmosphere creation and safety measures.

During the tournament, the city launched a "Watch the Games, Tour Hebi" initiative, offering five curated travel routes for guests. Special ticket discounts were introduced: free admission for tournament participants and half-price tickets for one companion.