Lian Jiaqi

403950598@qq.com

THE 2026 Asia-Pacific Youth Pickleball Competition officially kicked off at the Ramsports Group Pickleball Club in Shenzhen on Friday.

Co-hosted by Shenzhen News Group Global Communication Center, the Pingshan District Government, and Ramsports Group, the competition marks a new chapter in youth exchanges during the APEC “China Year.”

The year‑round event includes monthly training camps, a mid‑year friendship competition, and finals. The finals are scheduled to take place in Pingshan District in the second half of the year.

At the launch ceremony, 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 competitions.

Stanislau Kulaha, a student from Belarus studying at Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, 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 where I live into a place where 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 transitioning between offense and defense.

A small pickleball match was also held on-site, where students built friendships and won prizes.

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 my family and friends out there,” she said. “Pickleball is probably not something you have heard of before, but it’s similar to badminton, tennis, and table tennis. I believe this sport can unite people and eventually bring us to a chill and very exciting social gathering.”

In the initial stage, the event aims to recruit 20 to 30 participants. It will be open to Z10 Club members as well as other international students in Shenzhen.