Making a racket about pickleball

National Momentum

Song Hongfei, secretary-general of the China Pickleball Circuit, explained that the national championships also serve a broader purpose. "The main goal is to assess the development level of pickleball across provinces and cities — since each region sent its top athletes to compete — and to explore and establish competition rules and systems for the sport itself," he said.

Song emphasized that testing competitive standards will help strengthen promotion efforts in cities nationwide. At the same time, hosting such events boosts the profile of host cities and stimulates cultural and tourism development.

"As a new sport, one of our biggest challenges is how to build a standardized competition system and how to better integrate pickleball with urban culture and tourism," he added.

Song noted that pickleball's growth in China has been uneven, historically stronger in the south than in the north. But, with the expansion of national tours in recent years, this gap has narrowed significantly.

The sport is now thriving among all age groups, from youths to seniors, and across professions.

"Pickleball has a low entry barrier, strong safety and controlled intensity. The courts are small, the risks are minimal and it can be played in many formats and locations," Song said.

He recalled how marathons experienced an explosive boom in China more than a decade ago, and expressed hope that pickleball could follow a similar trajectory.

"The rise of pickleball brings huge demographic dividends," Song noted.

"As the sport develops, a large number of institutions and enterprises will get involved — from building venues and producing equipment and apparel, to offering training courses and hosting tournaments. All of these industries will grow quickly."

Song believes pickleball entered a phase of accelerated development last year, as the Chinese Tennis Association began standardizing competitions. The next step, he said, is to strengthen the connection between events and related industries.

"This sport is easy to learn, accessible to nearly all age groups, low-cost, quick to roll out in fitness venues and highly safe. That's why it has been particularly welcomed by schools and sports departments," he said.

Currently, the number of pickleball participants in China is estimated to be between one and two million, and Song predicts that, within five years, the number could surpass 10 million.

In the past two years, pickleball has developed rapidly in China. This year alone, the pickleball tour has surpassed 100 events, and the total number of competitions at all levels is expected to exceed 300 by the end of the year.

Bai Xilin, director of the tennis administrative center under the General Administration of Sport of China, noted that the General Office of the State Council recently issued its guidance on unlocking the potential of sports consumption and further promoting the high-quality development of the sports industry.

The document sets out the overall goal of cultivating a number of internationally influential sports enterprises and events by 2030, with the total scale of the sports industry exceeding 7 trillion yuan ($981 billion).Notably, its very first section explicitly highlights support for the healthy and regulated development of emerging sports projects and competitions.

"The staging of the National Pickleball Championships is a crucial step in responding to national policy, improving the competitive system for pickleball and fostering the integration of sports consumption with urban development," Bai said.

He added: "As the highest-level stage for pickleball enthusiasts and athletes nationwide, this event not only tests the depth of talent and competitive standard of the sport in China, but also serves as a platform for players from across the country to exchange experiences and build friendships.

"At the same time, it offers a concentrated showcase of Hebi's urban development, city landscape and the vibrant spirit of its people."

liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn