Jinjiang Kicks Off Basketball Tournament With 104 Teams Across Asia

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 3 (Bernama) -- The Jinjiang Culture & Tourism Group · 2026 "Samaranch Cup" Asian Basketball Masters Invitational Tournament kicked off in Jinjiang on Feb 1, bringing together 104 youth and adult teams from across Asia.

Co-hosted by the Samaranch Foundation and the Jinjiang Municipal People's Government, the six-day event features youth and adult categories. The youth competition covers six age groups from U9 to U17, while the adult division adopts the men's 3x3 format.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice president and the Samaranch Foundation founder, Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr, delivered a video message encouraging athletes to carry forward the Olympic spirit.

The opening ceremony also highlighted local culture, featuring the "Jintang Dragon Dance", a Jinjiang intangible cultural heritage item that holds a Guinness World Record for the longest luminous dragon dance in the world, measuring 297.88 metres.

Later that evening, the first match saw Jinjiang's Nanyin Sports (U17) take on Malaysia's Selangor Basketball Association (U17), according to a statement.

The tournament will also host parallel events, including an Olympic-themed Lecture Series, an Asian youth basketball salon, and a cultural visit to Wulin in Jinjiang for international players.

Jinjiang, known as "China's Footwear Capital", produces around 1.5 billion pairs of athletic shoes annually—about one-fifth of global output—and is home to sportswear brands such as Anta, Xtep, and 361°.

Guided by the "Jinjiang Experience", the city has developed a full sports industry chain covering materials research and development, intelligent manufacturing, and event operations.

-- BERNAMA