BEIJING, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Held in downtown areas of Shanghai and Chengdu, the China Pickleball Circuit 600 Shanghai and Chengdu stops took place recently not only attracted top pickleball players from China and abroad, but also served as a platform for cultural exchanges.

Renowned international pickleball coach and player Mark Price and Karin Ptaszek engaged in friendly matches with the top four players from the CPC-600 Shanghai and Chengdu stages.

Ptaszek expressed her excitement to visit China for the first time. "Being here in China is such a great experience. I have never been here personally and I thought it was going to be more crowded but it's not. We had the fun experience of going to a tea house. I love tea and learned more about the tea here in China. We just enjoyed the entire experience and we have so much more to see while we're here," she said.

Price echoed her sentiments. "I think it's been a great experience. I love being in other cultures. The players have been very welcoming and friendly. It's been competitive but also shaking hands at the end and everyone's had great sportsmanship. It's been a privilege to play here. I just want to thank you for having us," he said.

Organizers aimed to provide opportunities for citizens to watch and experience pickleball by staging the events in bustling commercial areas.

"This court they set up in this mall is truly amazing. It makes you feel very special, almost like playing on a center court. This is my first time playing at a mall, and it's pretty unique," said Ptaszek.

Price found the setting engaging. "It was a great experience to see people shopping and then stopping to watch from the balcony, everyone having fun enjoying the game. I think seeing a high-level game that is fast-paced and fun to watch is only going to help the game grow," he added.

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It is played on a smaller court with a net similar to tennis, though slightly lower.

The burgeoning sport has gained popularity among young players due to its low entry barrier, quick learning curve, moderate physical demands and strong social aspect.

On pickleball's potential in China, both players had optimistic views. Ptaszek noted China's strong background in table tennis. "China has such a strong ping-pong background, which translates well to pickleball. The fast hands at the net are game changers. I think that's why China can become really strong in pickleball."

Price emphasized the advantage of Chinese players' reflexes and hand skills. "Chinese players have a great starting point, given their backgrounds in badminton and ping-pong. They have great reflexes, good hands, and fast swings. I think they're going to be very successful in the future, even globally." Enditem

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