From ping-pong to pickleball, friendship wins

Coach Stacy Azizirad said one moment stood out above the others.

"When I learned that an American student would partner with a Chinese student, that was really special," she said. "It wasn't US versus China. It was about connection."

Sadie Reilly, a USA Pickleball ambassador in New Jersey, believes pickleball possesses many of the same qualities that made table tennis an effective bridge.

"Just as Ping-Pong Diplomacy opened doors through sport, pickleball has the potential to create new connections between the United States and China through friendly competition, coaching exchanges, youth programs, club visits, and cultural exchange," Reilly said.

"The sport allows people to connect first as players and friends, building understanding that extends beyond the court."

Reilly has worked with the ACAA and taken part in visits to China, where she said players conducted coaching clinics, cultural exchanges and friendly exhibition matches.

"As pickleball continues to grow in both the United States and China," she said, "I believe it has tremendous potential to become the next chapter in sports diplomacy."

The same spirit extends beyond official delegations into local communities.

Every weekend at ID Sports in Irvine, California, players from different cultural backgrounds gather to play pickleball, share food and talk about work, family and life. For some, friendships made on the court have also become an introduction to Chinese traditions.

Justice, who has played for about two years, said the welcoming nature of the sport is what kept him coming back.

"It's a sport for everybody," he told China Daily. "I've met people from all kinds of backgrounds. The more cultures that come into pickleball, the better."

Lin Di, founder of ID Sports and a former member of China's national tennis team, believes pickleball's accessibility and social nature can create more opportunities for grassroots exchange.

"Pickleball is easy to pick up and offers competition at various levels. We've organized group classes that attract many Chinese participants, some of whom have even introduced the sport back home in China," Lin said. He added that during a recent trip to Ningbo, Zhejiang province, they organized an exhibition tournament to share the sport with local players and promote grassroots exchange.

The academy is planning a 20-court pickleball facility in Irvine and hopes to expand cooperation with partners in China through training programs and tournaments.

"I hope that once the facility is completed, it will not only offer training services but also host tournaments at various levels," Lin said. "I aim to collaborate with partners in China to create a hub for exchange that connects everyone from grassroots players to national-team athletes."