By Jin Lu

On Nov 22, athletes from around the world competed in the 2025 Asia-Pacific Disc Golf Open at Yinzhou Academician Park in Ningbo, underscoring the sport's growing international appeal.

Disc golf, a frisbee sport played on 9- or 18-hole courses under rules similar to golf, now has an estimated 14 million participants worldwide. It was recently added to the World Games program, marking a step forward in its professionalization.

The two-day competition included 13 divisions across professional, youth, and amateur categories. Certified as a B-tier tournament by both the Professional Disc Golf Association and the China Disc Golf Championship, it gave athletes an opportunity to earn points towards international rankings while broadening public engagement with the sport.

Beyond the competition, a frisbee-themed market brought together interactive games, local food vendors, souvenir stalls, and major sports brands, turning the venue into a lively destination for athletes and visitors.

An emerging sports industry innovation forum was held concurrently at the University of Nottingham Ningbo, where experts and industry leaders discussed topics including sports commercialization, AI-driven training tools, and smart campus athletics.