Sport in China combines historical disciplines with a strong Olympic participation, both in the summer and winter Games, along with others that are beginning to gain ground on the national scene thanks to state policies, private investment and cultural changes. In this way, while some sports are part of the country’s sporting identity, others advance as bets on development and international projection.
Among the sports with the highest level of development, table tennis stands out, considered practically a national sport. China has dominated this discipline worldwide for decades, with a solid training system, specific infrastructure and constant results in international competitions. Along with it, badminton, gymnastics, weightlifting and ornamental jumping also take center stage, driven by a high-performance model aimed at Olympic success.
A clear example of this development is table tennis, popularly known as ping-pong. While it has not been officially declared by law as a national sport, it is widely recognized as a world power. Since the government of Mao Zedong, in the 1950s, this discipline began to be promoted as a tool for physical fitness and national pride. At the international level, the Asian giant is practically invincible and has established itself as the absolute dominator of this sport.
Within the framework of the Olympic Games, until 2024, China has accumulated 37 gold medals of the 42 awarded since table tennis debuted in Seoul 1988. Meanwhile, in the ITTF World Table Tennis Team Championship, the Asian country has secured multiple titles in both the men’s and women’s categories, extending its winning records in a sustained manner. China has won the Swaythling Cup (men’s) and the Corbillon Cup (women’s) 23 times in each category, a historic mark.
Within this prolonged hegemony, the country has maintained its dominance for decades, with 11 consecutive titles in the men’s division and six consecutive titles in the women’s division in the most recent editions of the tournament. The first world team title for China in the men’s branch came in 1961. In this context, Ma Long is considered the best player of all time and said goodbye to the Olympic Games in 2024 after winning his sixth gold medal, a historical record.
On the other hand, basketball is another of the most practiced and followed sports in China. It should be noted that Chinese basketball is currently going through a period of transition and structural reform with the aim of increasing its international competitiveness. In recent years, strategic modifications were implemented in coordination with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), as well as alliances with the NBA. In October of this year, the NBA and CBA signed a “transformative partnership” focused on the development of players, coaches and referees, making it easier for Chinese teams to train and compete in the United States.
This process is supported by a strong popular base and a consolidated professional league, where the influence of the NBA and historical figures such as Yao Ming have been decisive for its expansion and roots in the country’s urban culture. Currently, two Chinese players are part of American basketball: Yang Hansen, who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, and Cui Yongxi, for the Brooklyn Nets.
In parallel, football occupies a particular place. Although it is one of the most practiced sports at an amateur level, its professional development has been irregular. In recent years, China promoted long-term plans aimed at strengthening grassroots football, infrastructure and youth training, with the aim of improving its international competitiveness. In this sense, football can be considered a sport of strategic development, still far from the levels of excellence of other disciplines, but with a marked intention of appealing to foreign talent to teach the sport from the training categories.
Among the most emerging sports are winter sports, such as skiing and skating, which experienced a strong boost after the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Added to these disciplines are motorsports, tennis, surfing and eSports, which are growing especially among new generations, driven by urbanization, technology and digital consumption.
In this way, the Chinese sports map reflects a combination of tradition, state planning and new trends, in which historically dominant sports coexist with others that seek to consolidate themselves as part of the country’s sporting future.
The role of the State in sports development
The development of sport in China is closely linked to the role of the State, which acts as a planner, financier and articulator of the sports system. Unlike models based mainly on private initiative, the Chinese scheme is based on a centralized structure that defines priorities, allocates resources and establishes long-term objectives, especially in strategic disciplines for the country.
Public investment is reflected in the construction of sports infrastructure, the financing of federations and the training of coaches, many of them trained under unified national standards. This approach has been key to sustaining Chinese dominance in sports such as table tennis, badminton or weightlifting, where the continuity of sports policies has guaranteed consistent results over time.
