Pickleball’s steady rise across Asia has found another powerful expression in China, with the APBA Pickleball Open Grand Finals officially underway in Lishui Town, Nanhai district.
The five‑day tournament, staged at the FJAKA Homeland·Ruiling Pickleball International Center, is being held in Lishui for the first time and already ranks among Asia’s premier pickleball events in terms of prize money and participation.
This year’s edition has set a new Asian record for total prize money, underscoring the sport’s growing stature. More than 1,000 athletes from 11 countries and regions—including China, Malaysia, Singapore, Mongolia, South Korea, the United States, Vietnam, and the Netherlands—are competing in both individual and team events. The diverse field has turned pickleball into a genuine bridge of friendship, linking the Asia‑Pacific region with the wider world.
For China, hosting such a major international pickleball competition is further proof that the sport is gaining traction within its borders. With racquet sports already deeply embedded in Chinese culture, pickleball’s blend of accessibility and inclusiveness is finding fertile ground. The arrival of a high‑profile tournament in Foshan signals that pickleball is no longer a novelty but a sport beginning to establish its own space in the country’s sporting landscape.
The implications are significant. China’s embrace of pickleball adds weight to the sport’s global momentum and bodes well for its future. With its vast population and strong sporting infrastructure, the country’s involvement could accelerate pickleball’s growth, ensuring that what began as a niche pastime is now firmly on course to become a truly international game.
As the APBA Pickleball Open Grand Finals unfold, the message is clear: pickleball is picking up in China, and that can only mean good news for the sport’s continued expansion across Asia and beyond.
