Known for incredible tech innovations and a population of over 1.4 billion residents, China has a massive sports industry ranking in over $1.07 billion every year. From the classic martial arts to table tennis, soccer, and badminton, the Chinese participate and follow dozens of sports disciplines. Here are the five most popular sports in the land of “central beauty”.
1. Basketball
Basketball is the most popular sport in China, claiming about 58% of fan viewership in televised sports. The dunking sport has become a household name in Chinese popular culture, with locals closely following the NBA and local basketball leagues like the China Basketball Association (CBA) and the National Basketball League (NBL).
The basketball craze has grown incredibly strong in China since the beginning of the century, attracting multiple stakeholders in this multi-million-dollar industry. That includes advertisers, broadcasting companies, sponsors, and sports betting operators. For instance, Betway sports betting Zambia allows their punters to wager on the CBA and NBL.
2. Soccer
League soccer has increasingly grown popular in China since its introduction in the country in the late 19th century. The game is regulated by the Chinese Football Association, with the Chinese Super League being the top flight in the country. The league launched its operations in 2004 and international operators like Betway allow their punters to place bets on their league games.
The Chinese Football Association currently features 16 teams and currently ranks as the twelfth-best domestic league in the world for its average fan attendance (24, 107 people per game). This league also ranks sixth in revenue generation, standing behind the EPL, Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga, and Liga MX.
3.Table tennis
Table tennis has grown immensely popular in China since Mao Zedong announced the game as the country’s national sport in the 1950s. The sport has played a significant role in China’s political life throughout what’s popularly known as ping-pong diplomacy, which explains why the discipline has such a strong foothold in the country. For instance, the Chinese women’s table tennis team claimed gold against Japan in the recently concluded Paris Olympics against Japan, while the men’s team claimed the top medal against Sweden.
Table tennis has over 300 million players in the country, with the China Table Tennis Super League being the top competition. In fact, China has the most successful ping pong players in the world, regularly winning top tournaments in the world including the Olympics.
4. Badminton
Unlike soccer and basketball, badminton isn’t considered a mainstream sport in many countries worldwide. However, badminton is among the fan favorites in the country, with China’s national team considered to be the most successful globally. The Chinese squad has won 10 Thomas Cup trophies and 14 Uber Cup competitions.
5. Esports
While esports is generally new in the entertainment industry, the industry’s popularity has exploded in China since 2017. The country’s esports industry recorded over $370 million in 2020 and it currently ranks as the largest market in the world. This esports revolution is powered by innovative technologies like 5G and the rise of next-generation consoles like PlayStation 5.
Featured image: wikimedia
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