Sport trends for white-collar workers in China are evolving rapidly. First the spotlight was on frisbee, then boxing, and now badminton. Young people are drawn to badminton due to its perceived affordability and networking opportunities. In an article from the Chinese media outlet Sanlian Weekly backy in March, one interviewee noted that to find a good badminton court in Beijing, one often has to look for places where access is linked to student, faculty, or employment benefits, as such facilities present the opportunity for networking. This is also why badminton has gained popularity among workers in state-owned enterprises (国企, guóqǐ) and those working government jobs, “within the official system” (体制内 tǐzhì nèi) in meme-ready Gen Z parlance.

With many young Chinese interested in the stability of such jobs, or semi-jokingly intrigued by the prospect of a partner “within the official system,” the badminton trend is expanding further. Companies are now renting courts near offices as an employee benefit.

However, the increasing popularity of badminton is reflected in the rising prices of badminton supplies. For instance, the price of a pack of 12 Yonex AS-03 EX badminton shuttlecocks has increased from 94.1 RMB to 185 RMB between last November and July. Yonex, along with other brands like Lingmei, Victor, and RSL, has generally raised prices by 3 to 12 percent for their badminton products.

Industry experts attribute this price hike to raw material shortages. Badminton shuttlecocks are primarily made from duck feathers. A feather trader in the downstream sector of the industry mentioned that the price of a bundle of duck feathers has risen from 25 RMB to as much as 40 RMB this year. This increase stems from higher demand for pork earlier in the year, leading many farmers to switch from duck farming to pig farming, thereby reducing the supply of feathers.

However, the rising cost of badminton is not solely due to the scarcity of duck feathers. Statistics indicate that the number of badminton stadiums in Beijing has doubled in the past year. Despite this growth, enthusiastic players still find it challenging to secure court reservations, and rental prices have increased to as much as 120 RMB per hour in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai.

After these price hikes, young people are reconsidering whether badminton remains the affordable sport they once loved. Social media posts even highlight complaints from individuals earning around 20,000 RMB per month who now find it difficult to afford playing badminton.

In a report on the badminton industry by Chinese business media outlet Business Value (市界, Shi Jie), industry representatives expressed their shared belief that price increases in sports like badminton are part of cyclical fluctuations. They anticipate that accumulated pressures from recent years will ease once the industry warms up overall. As more young people join the badminton craze, hopefully this humble sport can remain open to all.

Banner Image via Xinhua Net.