Pickleball tournament brings social and economic benefits in Luzhou

The 2025 "Li-Ning & Luzhou Bank Cup" National Champions Invitational was held over the weekend at the Olympic Park in Luzhou, Sichuan province.

The event showcased a series of high-caliber matches and paired the competitive sport with a range of community and cultural activities — blending the fast-growing appeal of pickleball with the distinctive character of Luzhou, widely known as China's "city of liquor".

The tournament was 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.

Xu Li, head of the Publicity Department of the Luzhou municipal Party Committee, said pickleball's inclusive nature makes it accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds.

"Pickleball is gradually becoming an important platform for bringing communities together, promoting public health, and driving the development of the sports industry," she said.

She added that hosting the event in Luzhou has provided a strong boost to the city's sports sector while aligning with its broader push for high-quality urban development.

Liu Hanquan, president of Sichuan Sports College, described the tournament as both a recognition of Sichuan's progress in developing pickleball and an opportunity to elevate the sport's quality and reach.

He said organizers hope to use the event as a catalyst to attract wider public participation and to position the sport as a bridge that connects people and supports social and economic development.