Pickleball is just getting started in China
According to the company, Sports Club Suzhou Shishan opened the first pickled court of China in January 2024.
Suzhou Shishan
Beijing – US Pickleball Craze It is still strong, China is just beginning.
Pickleball shovels in China and the online sales of the related equipment rose to $ 1.2 million in monthly sales as of July this year-this increased by more than six times compared to the previous year.
This is according to the data of WPIC Marketing + Technologies. The company helps foreign brands such as Ohio-based Food Blender vendor Vitamix and Skincare Brand to be clinical from California-online sales in China and other parts of Asia.
“Pickleball’s rise in China reflects a wider change in active lifestyles and entertainment sports,” WPIT’s co -founder and CEO, CEO. He said.
Racet sport takes a lift from the social media impressive won by the country and the re -revival of the country thanks to Chinese tennis player Zheng Qinwen The first Olympic Gold Medal in Tennis Single Cooke last summer.
In China, his interest in tennis and Pickleball began in 2023, accelerated in 2024, and this year, “still going very well,” McKinsey said, Senior partner and Asian Consumer and Retail Department leader Daniel Zipser. “We are still very strong acceleration, we are accelerating growth [period] Wider for racket sport. “
He pointed out that the locals are not only getting more and more sports, but also watching professional games more.
During the first “Hong Kong Open” contest of US -based professional Pickleball Association (PPA), there was a quite a big crowd from August 24 to 24 August 24 [to watch the] The latest gold medal matches, “said Patrick Yan, the founder of the saltwater agency representing Asian Pickleball players.” The entire tournament is maximum and a waiting list. “
Yan also stated that when the Hong Kong region visited in December and January in December and January, he had more pickle courts than two.
Hong Kong is open Opening Ppa Tour Asia This includes matches in Japan, Malaysia and Vietnam.
Jack Wong from Hong Kong Men won the single championshipRoos van Reek from the Netherlands won the female single. PPA did not immediately respond to the request for a comment that a “China Slam”, which was initially arranged in early October, was progressing as planned.
PPA organized the first US pickled tournament in Arizona At the beginning of 2020. Sports, communities quickly re -placed public spaces in free Pickleball courts, gaining popularity during their pandemia. Since then, Pickleball has been the fastest growing sports in the United States for four years, Sports and Fitness Industry Association Report May.
Business angle
Pickleball’s latest growth in China has different business effects.
Unlike the US suburbs, Great Asian cities do not tend to have large neighborhood areas. “All these courts should be built by people running.
The authority added that the local Pickleball tournament system has been managed by the National Chinese Tennis Association and has made the development of the sport quite systematic compared to local organizations that have to organize and finance everything “.
Suzhou Pickleball Association Vice President Lu Bing said that in 2023 he learned Pickleball from an American friend. Later, the local Shishan Sports Club, where a few pickled courts, where the hourly wages started in 60 Yuan ($ 8.39). Authorized, many local schools, students’ basketball fields and other facilities by reorganizing the sport, he added.
Pickleball’s attractiveness in China is how easy it is to learn the sports of the locals – some people still found it very difficult after a few lessons at the sports club.
Difficulties and opportunities
Lu says that the club is an authorized sales partner for Joola, a US Pickleball brand, is less open that other foreign brands and organizations can benefit from the trend immediately.
Despite the great potential of China compared to Vietnam and Malaysia, China’s biggest pickled markets, it can be difficult to browse the Asian giant due to language barriers and unique WeChat messaging application -based ecosystem.
“I know that some courts will probably come out of work and some will survive and take over the market in certain areas.” He said. “Because very early on the market, many people are basically trying to be the first carrier.”
The increase in consumer expenditures in pickles and other sports in China has been suppressed as general retail sales have been suppressed since PANDEM.
McKinsey’s Zipser said that consumer expenditures were now more independent than depressive emotion, he said that he was “confident” in the second half of this year in consumption until 2026.
In the last two years, the consumer was just waiting for the beautiful old days to return, dedi he said, pointed out the hope of recovery in the real estate market and wide -digit growth.
“People have noticed now [that’s] It won’t be, “he said.” They continued. They don’t sit there anymore. … Life needs to continue. “
