A pickleball tournament for expats is held in Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu province. [Photo/WeChat account: tcfbgw]

More than 60 international players from 26 countries gathered in Taicang, Jiangsu province, on Oct 17 for a friendly pickleball tournament, forming 13 teams for a day of competition and cross-cultural exchange.

Yang Shijin, a Thai student majoring in Chinese language and literature at Suqian University, joined the Suqian team alongside teammates from Laos, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The third-year student said he had only started playing pickleball in July but was quickly drawn to the sport for its accessibility and novelty.

"We usually communicate in Mandarin, and it's great to have this opportunity to meet and connect with people from different countries in Taicang," Yang said in fluent Chinese.

After a series of competitive matches, Wuxi took first place, followed by Suzhou in second and Xuzhou in third.

"This was a high-level competition, and I'm so happy to win the championship against players from so many countries," said Angie Bong, an Indonesian member of the Wuxi team, as she held up the trophy.

Bong said the tournament was about more than mere sporting skills. It also offered an opportunity for cultural exchange, allowing players to make like-minded friends through pickleball and experience Jiangsu's openness and inclusiveness firsthand.