US youth pickleball delegation kicks off China visit in Shenzhen

A U.S. youth pickleball delegation arrived in Shenzhen on Feb. 15, making the city the first stop of its 2026 China visit.

Participants pose for a group photo. Qiu Weibin

In the afternoon, the delegation took part in the third China-U.S. Youth Pickleball Friendship Tournament at Shenzhen Nanshan Experimental Education Group Overseas Chinese Town High School. The event brought together young people from China and the United States through sport and provided an opportunity for them to interact and build friendships.

U.S. youth envoy Haley Corkey said she enjoyed playing pickleball with Chinese students and saw the sport as a way to build bridges between people from different countries.

“I think that this is a great opportunity. I’m so lucky to be a part of it. I hope that this tradition lasts,” Corkey said.

Chinese and U.S. students compete in a friendly pickleball match. Qiu Weibin

Another U.S. youth envoy, Michael Christopher Horton, described the experience of playing with Chinese students as “enriching” and “rewarding,” adding that it was one of the best experiences he had ever had.

Chinese student Fan Chenyi said the activity gave students from both countries a chance to connect.

Wang Pengfei, head of the Chinese delegation, said the exchange aims to help students gain a more comprehensive and authentic understanding of Chinese culture and China through pickleball, while experiencing Shenzhen as a city of high-quality development.

The friendship tournament was part of the delegation’s people-to-people exchange activities during its visit to China.