Photo Credits to: China Daily
On the final weekend of 2025, Luzhou cemented its place on China's pickleball map as it hosted the Li-Ning & Luzhou Bank Cup National Champions Invitational at Olympic Park in Sichuan. With elite matches on court and vibrant community programming off it, the tournament delivered more than just a competitive finale - it offered a dynamic blend of sport, culture, and civic ambition.
Jointly hosted by the tennis administration center under the General Administration of Sport of China, the Chinese Tennis Association, the Sichuan Provincial Sports Bureau, and the People’s Government of Luzhou, the event marked a national effort to showcase pickleball’s expanding role in urban development and public life.
A Capital of Culture Embraces a Sport of Access
Luzhou, widely known as China’s “city of liquor,” embraced the sport’s inclusive spirit and its potential as a tool for engagement. Officials pointed to pickleball’s adaptability across ages and skill levels as a reason for its growing appeal.
“Pickleball is gradually becoming an important platform for bringing communities together, promoting public health, and driving the development of the sports industry,” said Xu Li, head of the Publicity Department of the Luzhou municipal Party Committee.
By hosting a high-profile event, Xu added, the city was reinforcing its broader push for livable, high-quality urban development.
Photo Credits to: China Daily
From Showcase to Springboard
Liu Hanquan, president of Sichuan Sports College, called the invitational a recognition of Sichuan’s steady progress in the sport - and an opportunity to scale it further. Organizers ensured the tournament met national standards: professional-grade facilities, trained officiating crews, coordinated transportation and medical support, and robust volunteer systems.
Sun Wenbing, deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Tennis Association, said the event followed the guiding principle of “invigorating cities through sports events and promoting tourism through sport.” She emphasized that the association would continue efforts to standardize and systematize the sport’s development so it could contribute more broadly to health, cohesion, and vitality.
Outreach That Goes Beyond the Court
Off the court, a series of cultural and outreach activities extended the event beyond competition venues. Programs like the Champions Training Camp, Champions on Campus, and the Champions Tour of Luzhou gave residents and students the chance to interact directly with elite athletes - through clinics, visits, and hands-on instruction sessions.
The organizers framed the invitational as both a competitive event and a platform for community engagement, aligning sport with education, tourism, and urban development.
What’s Next?
With the curtain closed on 2025, Luzhou’s model points toward the future of pickleball in China: professional in delivery, public in spirit. As national interest surges, expect more cities to pair championship events with grassroots connection - and more players, from all walks of life, to step onto the court.
