Taizhou promotes pickleball in schools with international tennis champions

Andre Agassi (left) plays pickleball with a student at Yunhu Primary School in Taizhou. [Photo provided to Taizhou Daily]

International Tennis Hall of Fame member Andre Agassi joined an international pickleball promotion event at Yunhu Primary School in Taizhou Bay New Area, East China's Zhejiang province, on April 11, engaging with students and supporting the sport's expansion in schools alongside three international tennis champions.

During the event, the Robot Sports Invitational Tournament Plan was released, and the International Friendship Pickleball Promotion Center was launched, further elevating Taizhou's international profile and supporting its sports-technology integration efforts.

Agassi highlighted the role of sports in connecting people across cultures and noted that pickleball, with its accessibility and strong participation base, is especially suitable for young players. He added that technology is reshaping training methods and improving athletic performance, and expressed confidence that Taizhou will see further progress in integrating sports and innovation.

Xia Sijun, chairman of the Beijing Association for the Promotion of Olympics Culture, said that the robot sports invitational tournament will be held in the second half of this year, incorporating technologies such as intelligent refereeing and aligning with international competition standards. He added that Taizhou's strong industrial base in smart devices, low-altitude economy, and computing infrastructure provides solid support for the development of technology-driven sports.

The event showcases a model that combines international resources with local platforms, supporting the development of a globally oriented sports and technology brand in the city.