Guiyang serves up New Year pickleball invitational

Nearly 100 people took part in the 2026 Guiyang New Year Workers Pickleball Invitational at the Qianlingshan Pickleball Courts in Guiyang, Southwest China's Guizhou province, on Jan 24.

The Guiyang New Year Workers Pickleball Invitational starts at the Qianlingshan Pickleball Courts. [Photo/guiyang.gov.cn]

Representing universities, government departments, and State-owned companies, participants from 16 teams competed in a mixed team event featuring men's doubles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles to sharpen their skills and strengthen exchanges through the sport.

Jointly hosted by China Mobile Guizhou, the Guiyang bureau of sports and the Guiyang Sports General Association, the tournament formed part of the provincial "Celebrate the Chinese New Year with Fitness" campaign. It aimed to promote the national fitness initiative, enrich workplace sports and cultural activities, and further boost the sport's popularity among public institutions, enterprises and local communities.

Combining elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis, pickleball has gained momentum in Guiyang in recent years thanks to its simple rules, high accessibility and strong social appeal. The tournament reflected the sport's growing popularity in the city, with players enjoying fast-paced rallies and highlighting the sport's growing appeal among local residents.