Fitness sector picks up the pace

China's sports industry enjoys resurgent 2023 as companies cater to increasingly sophisticated market

China's sports industry continued to thrive in 2023 amid an increased focus on personalized services and a boom in both elite and grassroots events.

A notable trend at this year's China International Sporting Goods Expo was that a growing number of domestic businesses have shifted their focus from manufacturing and selling sports equipment to providing comprehensive services to a wide range of customers, from schools to clubs and communities.

Personalized services, as well as the integration of user demographics and usage scenarios, have been given greater consideration.

"Fitness is a personalized activity, so there is a huge market. Personalized services will be a driving force of the sports goods industry," said Luo Jie, vice-president and secretary-general of the China Sporting Goods Association.

Many companies are accelerating their transformation and upgrading efforts to broaden their market prospects, he added.