Chang Zhipeng 57589527@qq.com STEPPING into the sports fields at Q-PLEX commercial complex or the INLI shopping mall in Nanshan District, you may spot people waving “table tennis bats” to play “tennis” on a “badminton court.” However, this is not a new invention; rather, it is the sport of pickleball, which originated in Washington in 1965. It was created by a group of friends seeking a new game to entertain their children. Pickleball is an intriguing and competitive sport, combining elements of tennis, table tennis, and badminton. The game can be a singles or doubles match, with players scoring points by hitting the ball past their opponents and into their court, taking turns serving. The primary goal is to prevent the ball from touching the ground as much as possible. Mastering the technique, setting up the court, and arranging the gear is relatively easy. The laid-back sport is making waves in China, gaining sudden popularity among young people across the country since spring this year. “Pickleball has been played not only in first-tier cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, but also in smaller cities as well,” said Zeng Guobiao, director of the China Liaison Office of the International Pickleball Federation (IPF). Zeng is said to be the first person to introduce the sport to China. He is also the founding director of the Shenzhen Pickleball Association. Now he is assisting the IPF to promote the sport in China. In 2016, Zeng, an international trade businessman, saw people playing pickleball on a trip to Japan. After doing some research, he realized that this sport would have good market potential in China. “At that time, no one played it in China. But we Chinese are good at racket sports, such as table tennis and badminton, so [I thought], ‘we will love it,’” he said. In 2017, he started to promote the sport in China. The following year, the sport was introduced to several primary and middle schools in Shenzhen. Lin Yanzhi, an advertising director in Shenzhen and an experienced pickleball player, said he began playing pickleball last September and now plays two or three times a week. “The most significant benefit for me from this sport is friends I’ve made. Currently, there are not many dedicated pickleball fields in Shenzhen; some are adapted from tennis or badminton courts using stickers to outline the pickleball zones and boundaries,” he explained. Since 2021, Q-PLEX has been planning pickleball-related events and has built the first fluorescent pickleball court in China. According to Chen Long, head of business planning at Q-PLEX, the commercial complex opened a new professional pickleball court in October. “This sport has a strong social aspect. We can engage with artists and trendy sports brands by organizing various compelling events, which has received positive feedback from participants. We aim to bring more joy to the public through this sport, which gives us a sense of achievement,” Chen said. Pickleball has been included as a demonstration event at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Currently, the IPF boasts 78 member states and 91 organizations. The sport theoretically has the potential to become an official event in future Olympic Games. | 