There is a common saying about China: once it sets its sights on a sport, it does not just compete; it dominates. And when that sport is already thriving in the United States, the rivalry only gets more intense. The two countries have a rich history of rivalry in racket sports, with the ‘Ping Pong Diplomacy’ of the 1970s being the most storied example.

It is the fastest-growing sport in the United States, where pickleball activities have surged to an all-time high, with former tennis players like Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf leading the charge. This week, the couple reached Shanghai as part of the 2025 Pickleball Legends Tour.

As pickleball fever spreads worldwide, China—a powerhouse in racket sports, dominating badminton and table tennis—is unlikely to sit back and watch. Pickleball may be the latest phenomenon in global sports, but China is not way behind. Introduced to China over a decade ago, pickleball is making all the right noises in the world’s most populous country.

The country has already initiated the process by introducing the sport at the university level, with Baoding leading the charge in north China's Hebei Province. In November last year, 300 players from over 16 provinces, municipalities, and regions across the country competed for titles in men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Wang Kangjie and Ke Rouyu emerged as the men’s and women’s singles champions.

“Baoding is seizing the opportunity to promote the faster and better development of pickleball, 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,” said Meng Yingli, the deputy director of the Baoding Sports Bureau.

However, it is not the first university in China to pursue pickleball. Lanzhou University in Gansu Province adopted the sport three years ago when the phenomenon was still in its nascent stage.

The administrative structure of the game has already taken shape, with the first China Pickleball Circuit—the umbrella term for national-level tour events—being launched by the Small Ball Sports Management Centre under China's General Administration of Sport and China's Pickleball Sports Working Committee.

As a burgeoning sport, pickleball has gained popularity due to its low entry barrier, quick learning curve, flexible court requirements, and strong social aspect.

The phenomenon, currently sweeping the northern and northwestern provinces of China, has reached Baiyin City in Gansu Province, where youngsters are expressing their passion for pickleball. Much like in the US, the sport has gained traction among the working-class youth due to its cardiovascular benefits.

Wang Chen, a 28-year-old staff member from the Baiyin City branch of State Grid, was elated to watch her teammates score a big win in a pickleball match.

"I watched some pickleball videos last month, and it is an interesting sport,” Wang told Xinhua, China’s official news agency. She started playing pickleball in February. Due to its ability to foster team-building at work and its health benefits, pickleball has become widely popular in China, noted Wang.

To sustain their passion for pickleball, Wang and her colleagues took the initiative to refurbish an old and deserted company badminton court into a pickleball facility.

"More and more staff will love this sport," Wang affirmed. As a demonstration sport at the Paris Olympics, pickleball has intrigued youngsters like Wang.

Lanzhou University in Gansu Province is among the first Chinese educational institutions to introduce pickleball into their recreational activities, and its popularity is evident.

Zhao Fang, a teacher in the university's sports department, said student interest has grown since the creation of the pickleball association, with training sessions held every Monday and Tuesday afternoon, now boasting over 230 members.

Gansu’s sports administration has also adopted pickleball as a key promotional sport in 2024, following a provincial competition late last year. “The biggest joy is that everyone can improve continuously and make friends through this sport," Zhao said.

At the current pace, China is expected to build over 10,000 pickleball courts and 100 million players within the next five years, with the potential to surpass the US in terms of players and engagement.

Given pickleball's growing popularity in China, it is no overstatement to say that a sport born as a backyard pastime in the US is now igniting a wave of enthusiasm in the East—proving that pickleball fever knows no borders.

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