From Guangdong talent factory to global pickleball glory: Kong Lingwei's journey
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Kong Lingwei has become the first mainland Chinese player to earn a full-time living from pickleball, rising to world No. 16 and Asian No. 3 after leaving her hometown in Hunan at age 10 to train at the renowned Guangdong Ersha Sports Training Centre. The 72-year-old talent factory, which produced diving star Quan Hongchan and over 120 world champions, shaped Kong through tears and determination before she switched sports. Kong is now targeting three titles at the US$1.1 million Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam in October.
Key Points
- Kong Lingwei was sent to the Guangdong Ersha Sports Training Centre at age 10, where she cried frequently but resolved to become a professional tennis player
- The centre, nicknamed the "cradle of champions," has produced more than 120 world champions in 72 years and delivered 8 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics
- She idolized Maria Sharapova and drew inspiration from the Russian's own difficult journey of moving to the USA at age 7 and being separated from her mother for two years
- At 17 in 2015, Kong began competing on the ITF Asia Tour while pursuing a sport training degree at the South China University of Technology
- Kong is set to compete for three titles at the Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam, a tournament with a US$1.1 million prize pool, in October
Why It Matters
Kong's journey from the state-run talent factory system to professional success in a Western-born sport like pickleball highlights China's evolving approach to sports development. For Hong Kong, hosting the prestigious Slam provides an opportunity to showcase the growing appeal of pickleball in Asia and attract top regional talent to compete on home soil.
Kong's journey from the state-run talent factory system to professional success in a Western-born sport like pickleball highlights China's evolving approach to sports development. For Hong Kong, hosting the prestigious Slam provides an opportunity to showcase the growing appeal of pickleball in Asia and attract top regional talent to compete on home soil.