Chinese Sports

Many sports that are popular in the West are also common in China. These sports include baseball, basketball, badminton and table tennis. These sports have become so popular that they now have professional teams or players, making China a top attraction for fans and athletes alike.

Baseball

Baseball has a rich history in China, dating back nearly 150 years. Starting with the Shanghai Baseball Club, this sport has enjoyed a strong following among the people of China. The modern rebirth of baseball in China is almost 40-years-old, beginning with the rise of the China Baseball Association. Today, the China Baseball League has a lot of support from fans throughout China and the rest of the world. In fact, the team plays in the World Baseball Classic and has defeated the national teams of both Japan and South Korea. As baseball becomes an even bigger phenomenon, the sport will expand its influence in China and the rest of Asia.

Basketball

Basketball is also a national phenomenon in China. Approximately 300 million Chinese citizens play the sport. The Chinese Basketball Association now has 18 teams, with certain players enjoying international fame and success. Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets is one such player, and Sun Yue of the Los Angeles Lakers is another. Both of these athletes help generate support for basketball in China, with many players now seeking to gain attention from American fans and the NBA. Yao Ming and other NBA success stories have helped to popularized basketball in China. In general, basketball in China is a major part of the country’s culture since the sport was brought there over 100 years ago.

Badminton

Badminton is a sport with a large following in China. Since the game is simple and does not require costly equipment or training, it can be played in a variety of indoor or outdoor settings. As both a club sport and professional competition sport, badminton is a classic racquet game between two opposing players (singles) or two opposing pairs (doubles) that is over 300-years-old.

Table Tennis

Table tennis or ping-pong is the national pastime in China. Many of the country’s players dominate the sport globally and are champions at the Olympics. Currently, table tennis is the most popular recreational sport in China with more than 300 million players. In fact, the highest ranked table tennis player in the world is from China. The game’s fast pace and excitement mean that it also has plenty of fans across Asia and the United States.