The Most Popular Sports in China

Surprisingly, basketball is among the top sports in China. In the early 1990's the introduction of the sport was popularized by the nation and caught on fire. Badminton as well, hosts a wealth of famous sportsman.

Chinese culture has traditionally placed a strong emphasis on physical fitness, with many people initially viewing martial arts as a natural way to stay fit and healthy. Since the beginning of the 20th century, however, a number of traditionally Western sports such as Basketball have become increasingly more popular in China and they are now widely recognised as being inherently part of the country’s national sporting structure. China’s prowess within these sports is well known and its athletes compete regularly at all major international sporting events and tournaments. With strong government backing, Chinese athletes are extremely dedicated to their particular sport and they have become very successful, as was evident in their record medal haul at the Olympic Games that were held in Beijing in 2008 when they won 51 gold medals.

There are three main sports in China whose popularity remains unrivalled, and they are Table tennis, Basketball and Badminton.

Table tennis, or Ping Pong as it is known in China, is an indoor game that can involve two or four players, and it is played on a hard table with a net. Each player holds a small bat or table tennis racket and they must strike a small white ball across the net and on to their opponents side of the table. The ball is allowed to bounce only once on the table and a point is scored if the opponent is unable to return the ball before it bounces for a second time or if it falls to the floor. Table tennis requires the player to be fast, agile and to have extremely good eye to hand coordination, qualities that all of China’s top players possess in abundance.

Table tennis was first played in England in the late 1800s and although it remains popular in Europe, it is in Asia and particularly China where its popularity has surged. Since becoming an Olympic sport in 1988, China has won 16 gold medals and it completed a clean sweep of gold medals in all categories at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games. In China, table tennis players such as Wang Liqin, Wang Hao and Zhang Yinning are widely revered as celebrities, while Zhang Jike is currently the highest ranked male player in the world.

Given the widespread popularity of table tennis, particularly among young people, China’s dominance of the sport looks set to continue for some time.

When Yao Ming signed a professional NBA contract with the Houston Rockets in 2002, the popularity of Basketball in China soared to new heights. Yao Ming became an unofficial Chinese Ambassador for the sport and children everywhere aspired to follow in his footsteps and become a basketball legend.

Basketball was first introduced to China in the 1890s and it was made a national pastime in 1935. It was ultimately the creation of the internet and increased globalization in the 1990s that allowed Chinese nationals to see and read about basketball being played in the United States and it further increased in popularity. In 1995, the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) was formed and there are now 17 professional basketball teams that participate in the annual championship. This championship is split into Northern and Southern Divisions, with teams such as the Shanghai Sharks and the Beijing Ducks being among the best known and supported.

An estimated 300 million Chinese regularly play basketball, and courts can be found in almost all schools and on college campuses. In addition to the live broadcasting of CBA games, NBA matches in the United States of America are also televised live, and the popularity of basketball in China is expected to increase further in the coming years.

Like table tennis, Badminton is another sport that was first played in England. It is also another English sport that the Chinese have adopted as their own and millions love to watch and play it regularly. All Chinese children are taught how to play badminton from an early age, and on a sunny and windless day many Chinese both young and old will play the game outdoors with friends in parks, on the street, within their apartment complex, or generally any place where they can find enough space.

The first World Badminton Championships was held in 1977 and since then, Chinese players have dominated the tournament winning 40 gold medals. This medal total is more than twice that of their nearest challenger, Indonesia. Some fear that China’s dominance at badminton may result in the sport becoming boring and predictable, with Chinese players ultimately competing against each other for top honours.

Within China however, players are treated like royalty. The male badminton player, Lin Dan, has a massive following and his celebrity status in his native country has resulted in many lucrative advertising and sponsorship contracts. Lin has been equally successful on the badminton court and he became the first man to win consecutive gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. He has also won the Men’s world championship four times.

Many observers believe that with continued government support and funding, these three main sports will continue to be the most popular in China.