Passion Ignites the Summer, Pickleball Brings the Fun!

            On July 5, 2025, the “Florals and Youth Cup” – Pickleball Tournament took place with great enthusiasm at the Beijing Shangdong Sports Center!

            Over a hundred participants from Tsinghua University's School of Economics and Management and various sectors of society gathered on the court, connecting through sport and showcasing their talents. On the court, players displayed vibrant energy, with seamless teamwork and intense competition unfolding continuously. Off the court, cheers and applause echoed non-stop, as everyone passionately embraced the joy of sports, reflecting the players' dedication to athletics and their vibrant, positive spirit. As the organizer and executor of the event, the Silk Road Cities Alliance is committed to promoting pickleball as a new platform for national fitness and social interaction.

            The SRCA continues to drive public participation and cross-industry integration, shaping a new trend that fuses fashionable sports with lifestyle. At the end of the event, the founder of the Silk Road Cities Alliance, Mr. Song Ronghua decorated award-winning participants with honours. We have also invited the Haidian Foreign Language Bilingual Sports Academy to co-host the tournament, providing technical guidance for players and professional support for the event. National-level referee Li Mengshi was present to explain the rules and officiate the games, ensuring order and protocol throughout the tournament. This event was filled with joy, demonstrating the charm of pickleball as a highly social and entertaining new sport. It served as a bridge connecting health and happiness, further promoting the concept of a healthy lifestyle. Pickleball originated in Seattle, USA, in the 1960s. As a sport that combines enjoyment and competition, it incorporates elements from badminton, tennis, and table tennis. Some describe it as using oversized table tennis paddles to hit a plastic ball on a badminton court. Thanks to its easy-to-learn nature, small space requirements, and strong social aspect, pickleball has quickly gained popularity around the world.

            The paddles resemble large table tennis paddles and were originally made of wood but are now often crafted from lighter materials such as fiberglass and carbon fibre. The court is the same size as a badminton court, with the net lowered to 34 inches. The ball, similar in size to a tennis ball, is made of ABS resin, hollow, and perforated with 26 or 40 holes. Under the guidance of the National Tennis Association, the Silk Road Cities Alliance will continue its efforts to promote and popularize the sport, organizing exciting events and bringing the joy of pickleball into more people's lives.