Pingtung Plans International Tennis Center Amid Underused Existing Courts

Pingtung County in Taiwan is set to construct an international-class tennis center at the Linluo Sports and Leisure Park, featuring eight red clay courts designed to host the 2025 National Games. This initiative aims to provide superior training and competition spaces for athletes, while also serving as a public recreational area for the community.

The project is part of the county's preparations for the National Games, with Governor Chou Chun-mi emphasizing the need for upgraded facilities. Pingtung has a strong background in soft tennis, with local athletes like Li Chia-hung achieving significant success in the Asian Games and students from Chaozhou High School winning national championships.

Despite the plans for new courts, a debate has arisen over the underutilization of the county's existing hard-surface tennis courts at the Pingtung County Stadium. These courts are frequently empty, contrasting sharply with the high usage of nearby volleyball and basketball courts, which are popular among local youth.

This disparity has led to public criticism and calls for a review of the management of the stadium's facilities. County Councilor Chiang Yueh-hui had previously suggested converting the underused tennis courts into pickleball courts, a proposal that was not approved. As Pingtung prepares to host the National Games and build new courts, there are concerns that similar management issues could affect the new facilities if not addressed proactively.