Baseball and softball are gaining popularity among Chinese youth, with the number of players and fans increasing in recent years. China's 1st Student (Youth) Games, held at Guilin Tourism University, showcased the growing interest in the sport. Slow-pitch softball and Baseball5, a co-ed version of baseball, have contributed to the rise in popularity. Slow Pitch Softball teams have tripled in number in the past three years, and China finished fifth in the Youth Baseball5 World Cup. The inclusion of Baseball5 in the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Game as a medal event is expected to further boost its popularity. The China Baseball Association is committed to promoting the sport among Chinese youth. Nine baseball teams and nine softball teams from different cities will compete in this year's games, with Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xinjiang's Shihezi, and Nanjing being the top contenders. Despite being latecomers to the sport, the Nanning youth softball team is determined to make it into the top five. Chinese baseball and softball have seen significant achievements, with the national baseball team defeating Japan at the Asian Games and the female softball team finishing as runners-up. The game of baseball holds cultural significance in China, embodying the goal of coming home. [f58168d7]
Meanwhile, pickleball, a paddle sport blending elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, has gained popularity among the younger generation in Asia, shedding its image as a sport for seniors. Singaporean couple Jeremy Soh and Jeovanne Poernomo started playing pickleball as a means to introduce their parents to a sport suitable for older people but quickly became passionate about it themselves. They have since set up a pickleball facility in Singapore and have seen the sport attract players of all ages. Pickleball has also gained popularity in Vietnam, India, and China, with celebrities like Taylor Swift and Roger Federer promoting the sport on social media. The sport's easy learning curve and multigenerational appeal contribute to its growing popularity in Asia. [84ee7345]
Recent predictions by Steve Kuhn, founder of Major League Pickleball, suggest that Asian players may soon surpass their American counterparts in the sport. Kuhn has opened Hong Kong's first indoor pickleball club in Causeway Bay, with plans for additional venues in Kowloon, Tseung Kwan O, and Ma On Shan by the end of 2024. He cites table tennis as a model for Asian dominance in sports, noting that 40 million people currently play pickleball in the US. Kuhn believes that pickleball could gain Olympic status, potentially adding five medal opportunities. Co-founders of Bay Pickle, Albert Fung and Ken Deng, aim to transform Hong Kong's sports scene, emphasizing pickleball's accessibility and the potential for 'Cinderella stories' in the sport. Kuhn predicts that pickleball will be among the top five sports globally within a decade. [39f89e83]