Pickleball brings young people together across borders

The Ramsports Students Pickleball Exchange Friendship Tournament was held April 26 at Ramsports Arena in Longgang District, Shenzhen, bringing together young players from universities and institutions in China and abroad.

Participating teams included the Hong Kong Celebrity Team, Hong Kong University Pickleball United Team, Shenzhen University, South China Agricultural University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, Shenzhen City Polytechnic College, and Russia’s National Research University Higher School of Economics.

The tournament concluded with a final showdown between Shenzhen University and the Hong Kong Celebrity Team, with the Hong Kong team claiming the championship.

Winners pose for a group photo. File photo

Alex Yuen, president of Ramsports, said the tournament was organized to give local students opportunities to play and compete with peers from other cities and countries.

“Our aim is to let local students compete or play with students from other cities and countries,” Yuen said. “I want to take this opportunity to promote cultural exchange between China and other countries.”

For Hui Chun Ho, a young participant from Hong Kong, the tournament was his first visit to Ramsports Arena. He was impressed by the venue and Longgang’s development.

Hui Chun Ho, a youth from Hong Kong, during an interview with Shenzhen Daily. Zhao Xiaochen

“My first impression was, ‘Wow, Longgang has developed so well,’” Hui said. He added that many of his friends from Hong Kong also visit the district to play pickleball, and he hoped to return regularly to play with other participants.

By bringing together students and young people from different cities, regions and countries, the tournament used pickleball as a platform for friendship, cultural exchange and youth interaction.