Asia-Pacific Youth Pickleball Competition launched in city

Video and photos by Lin Jianping

The 2026 Asia-Pacific Youth Pickleball Competition officially kicked off June 5 at the Ramsports Group Pickleball Club in Shenzhen. 

The competition marks a new chapter in youth exchanges during the 2026 APEC "China Year." It is co-hosted by the Shenzhen News Group Global Communication Center, the Pingshan District government and Ramsports Group.

A group photo of the guests attending the 2026 Asia-Pacific Youth Pickleball Competition launch event. 

During the launch event, the Global Communication Center unveiled a year-round competition framework featuring monthly training camps, a mid-year friendship competition and annual finals. The finals are scheduled for the second half of the year in Pingshan.

Alex Yuan, president of Ramsports Group, speaks at the launch event.

Alex Yuan, president of Ramsports Group, said the event will provide professional-grade venues, experienced coaching staff and full equipment support to ensure high-quality training and competition.

Stanislau Kulaha, a student representative from Belarus at Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, spoke at the launch event. He credited Shenzhen Daily as his gateway to the city. "In a year and a half, I was invited to attend 25-plus events, and have made new friends. Shenzhen Daily has turned the city from a place I live into a place I belong," he said. 

He said that events like the pickleball game are what make the community special. Calling himself a proud Shenzhener, he added, "With APEC coming, this city is ready to show the world what it's made of."

On-site coaches then demonstrated basic skills including serving, returning and offensive-defensive transitions. Young participants took part, experienced the charm of the sports.

Students take part in a small on-site pickleball match.

A small pickleball match was also held on-site, where students have built friendship and won the prize.

Carisa Tania Suryabadi, an Indonesian student at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, wants to bring this new sport back home. "I would really love to introduce pickleball to families and friends out there," she said. 

"Pickleball is probably not something that you have heard before. But it's similar to badminton, tennis and table tennis. And I believe that this can unite people and eventually get us on a chill and very exciting social gathering."

The initial recruitment targets 20 to 30 participants and open to the Z10 Club members and other international students in Shenzhen.

Through photos, short videos and other new media formats, the event aims to build an international communication IP centered on youth exchange stories.