Windy Shao windysjf@hotmail.com THE first-ever Greater Bay Area (GBA) Prize Money Series pickleball tournament officially commenced Saturday at the Ramsports Pickleball Stadium in Longhua District. Hosted by Ramsports, a leading international pickleball organization based in Shenzhen, the competition featured mixed doubles, women’s doubles, and men’s doubles categories. There is a total prize pool of 8,000 yuan (US$1,114). Drawing over 100 players, the event also attracted a large number of enthusiastic spectators. Ramsports, in partnership with GBA-based clubs, aims to establish the tournament as a flagship event to boost participation in the sport and stimulate growth of the GBA’s burgeoning sports economy. Alex Yuan, president of Ramsports, said, “Pickleball is not just a sport — it represents a new lifestyle. Through this tournament, we hope to introduce more people to pickleball’s unique appeal and fuel the sport’s rapid development across the GBA.” When asked about the motivation for organizing the tournament, Yuan explained, “In the GBA, there are a lot of clubs and players playing pickleball. We want to create more competitive events where amateur and professional players can come, practice, and have fun.” Discussing the inclusion of prize money, Yuan added, “Offering prize money can encourage more people to join. In future tournaments, we plan to organize more events and possibly increase the prize money.” Inside the stadium, intense action kept the audience captivated as players demonstrated agility and teamwork during thrilling rallies. The sport’s accessibility, social aspect, and entertainment value were evident. Beyond the competition, the tournament acts as a sports festival, promoting pickleball through experience zones and interactive sessions designed to introduce the sport’s fundamentals and reduce barriers for first-time players. On the expansion of Ramsports facilities, Yuan shared, “Our first facility was here at the Mission Hills Mall, and we are about to open another large facility in Shenzhen. We expect to open it in October, during the peak season for tournaments and finals.” Ramsports also plans to open facilities beyond Shenzhen, starting with Hainan Province. The organization is also in talks with partners and government officials to establish more facilities across China. Regarding international tournament efforts, Yuan highlighted the ongoing PCL Asia tournament. “We have started the PCL Asia tournament, which is an Asian club-based competition. Teams from Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam are participating. Also, teams from China’s Hong Kong and Macao, as well as other GBA cities, are involved.” On promoting pickleball among young people, Yuan stated, “Pickleball is still new in China, and we want to create more opportunities to introduce it. We are going into schools and universities with programs where our coaches teach students how to play and understand pickleball. This will help cultivate interest from a young age and expand the sport’s reach.” | 