Pickleball’s Meteoric Rise: LIT TLP Tournament Underscores China’s Ambitions in the Fast-Growing Sport

By SK Lee

Zhongshan, China — As pickleball continues its transformation from a niche backyard game into a global powerhouse, the inaugural LIT TLP tournament in China’s Greater Bay Area served as a vivid illustration of the sport’s accelerating momentum. Organized by LIT TLP in partnership with LUZZ Pickleball and sponsored by LIT Larry Jewelry Limited — a storied jeweler with over six decades of heritage catering to Asia’s elite gem collectors — the event drew no more than 400 players from across the globe, including top professionals like Ryan Lam, the world No. 1 in the Pickleball Championship Series. Spectators packed the Zhongshan venue to watch high stakes matches featuring dramatic rallies and crowd-pleasing finishes, marking a successful close on February 1.

Rocky Chan, coach and chairman of TLP, captured the event’s spirit in his closing remarks: “We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our sponsors, especially LIT Larry, TGG, LIT Sports, and VIU TV, for making this event possible. A special appreciation goes to everyone who joined us at Zhongshan for this unforgettable spectacle, and to the players whose dedication created an action-packed weekend. We look forward to more exciting developments in the coming months as we continue building vibrant pickleball communities in Asia.”

The tournament’s success comes amid explosive growth for pickleball, which now boasts an estimated 40 million players worldwide in this accessible, fast-paced sport that blends elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. Andre Lajeunesse, managing director of TGG, a multi-strategy investment firm for a single-family office headquartered in Hong Kong, offered his perspective on the event: “It was my first time in Zhongshan; the food is phenomenal — never thought that such exquisite cuisine existed even though I’ve lived in Asia for 35 years! We must congratulate Rocky Chan, Nigel Li and the team for delivering such a high-quality sporting event here in the Greater Bay Area. I’m certain there will be many more to come as pickleball becomes more widely known and played.” TGG, a key supporter of the tournament, projects the global player base could swell to 300 million within the next five years, driven by its inclusive appeal and low barriers to entry.

China’s role in this expansion is particularly noteworthy. Top sports officials have pledged to build 10,000 courts and cultivate 100 million players over the next five years, positioning the country to potentially surpass the U.S. as the sport’s dominant force.

This ambition aligns with Beijing’s broader push for Olympic supremacy in racket sports like table tennis and badminton, where state-backed infrastructure has historically yielded gold medals. Seymour Rifkind, a Chicago-based pickleball ambassador and founder of the International Pickleball Teaching Professionals Association, relayed the commitment: “The top sports officials in China have pledged to me that within five years they expect to have 10,000 courts and 100 million players.” Such scale could reshape the sport’s merchandising and professional landscape, tilting economic opportunities toward Asia.

Globally, pickleball’s trajectory is equally impressive. In the U.S., participation has surged to 48.3 million adults — nearly 19% of the population — up 35% from 36.5 million in August 2022, according to the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP). The Sports & Fitness Industry Association reports a 311% increase over three years, with the average player age dropping to 34.8, signaling appeal among younger demographics. Worldwide, an estimated 80 million to 120 million people have tried the sport at least once, with active players exceeding 40 million across key markets like the U.S., Canada, Australia, England, Spain, India, and the Philippines. The global market, valued at $1.77 billion in 2025, is projected to reach $3.50 billion by 2032, growing at a 10.2% compound annual rate, fueled by equipment sales, infrastructure development, and tournament revenues.

Industry leaders are bullish. “The APP’s latest research proves that the rapid growth of pickleball continues unabated,” said Tom Webb, chief marketing officer of the APP. Bahram Akradi, CEO of Life Time Fitness, which is adding hundreds of courts annually, noted: “It brings people together, and there’s really no reason for people not to be able to do it.”

Celebrity endorsements have further amplified pickleball’s visibility, drawing investment and mainstream attention. NBA stars LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Draymond Green have backed Major League Pickleball teams, while retired quarterback Tom Brady owns one outright. Hollywood figures like Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Ellen DeGeneres, and the Kardashians are avid players, with DeGeneres frequently promoting the sport on her platforms. Other notables include Bill Gates, Justin Bieber, Serena Williams, and Emma Watson, whose involvement has helped position pickleball as a social and fitness staple among the elite. These high-profile backers are not just recreational enthusiasts; their investments underscore the sport’s commercial potential, from branded equipment to media rights.

This LIT TLP event echoes the themes from Solomon Grey Capital’s initial coverage of TGG’s foray into pickleball, where we highlighted the firm’s early bet on the sport’s scalability and community-driven economics. As anticipated, the landscape has evolved rapidly, with institutional interest surging and global participation outpacing even optimistic forecasts. The spectacle of pickleball — its blend of competition, accessibility, and social bonding — is in itself worth celebrating, but for investors like TGG, the real draw lies in the robust returns from a market poised for multibillion-dollar expansion. As China ramps up its efforts, expect pickleball to solidify its status as a blue-chip opportunity in the sports economy.