Asia Sports Business Weekly | 1st August

🔥 WWE returns to Tokyo | 🏀 Under Armour bets big on basketball in Asia

Hello Industry Friends, here is the very latest news and insights from Asia.

📰 Headlines: WWE storms back to Tokyo with a star-packed lineup, Under Armour bets big on Asia’s next basketball stars, snooker becomes China’s hottest status symbol, Liverpool expands in Hong Kong, and Beijing lands another global swimming event.

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🗞️ Key Industry News

WWE Returns to Japan for Two-Night Tokyo Event

WWE is heading back to Japan for a two-night SuperShow at Tokyo’s Ryōgoku Kokugikan on October 17-18. The stacked lineup includes World Heavyweight Champion Gunther, Jey Uso, Rhea Ripley, tag champs Finn Bálor & JD McDonagh, The New Day, IYO SKY, AJ Styles, and more. Read more on SI (English)

💡Mailman Take: WWE’s Japan return is a smart play to re-engage one of its most passionate international fanbases. With local star IYO SKY on the card and a stadium-ready lineup, these shows will sell out fast, proving Japan’s enduring love for WWE’s spectacle. More importantly, it reinforces WWE’s global reach at a time when wrestling’s popularity is surging worldwide.

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Under Armour Signs as AUBL’s Exclusive Partner

The Asian University Basketball League (AUBL) locks in Under Armour as its official uniform and game ball supplier. The inaugural season tips off August 18-24 in Hangzhou with 12 top men’s college teams. UA will provide custom performance kits and training gear, plus the league’s official game balls. Read more on Under Armour (English)

💡Mailman Take: Under Armour’s partnership with the AUBL is a strategic win, planting its flag in Asia’s fast-growing basketball market at the grassroots level. By outfitting the league’s top university teams, UA is building brand affinity with tomorrow’s stars and their fans. The AUBL has serious potential to become Asia’s premier college hoops platform, and UA’s early investment positions it as a key player in shaping the region’s basketball culture. If the league takes off, UA gains visibility, credibility, and a pipeline to future endorsers.

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How Snooker Became China’s Newest Status Sport

Billiards fever has taken China by storm in recent years, especially since Chinese national player Zhao Xintong won the World Snooker Championship in May this year. Parents are now investing significant time, money and effort to nurture “the next Zhao Xintong”. Lianhe Zaobao news correspondent Yush Chau spoke with a few of these potentials. Read more on ThinkChina (English)

💡Mailman Take: Snooker has long had a cult following in China, but Zhao Xintong's world championship victory has supercharged its status, transforming it from smoky pool halls to a sport of prestige. His success didn’t just inspire fans, it created a blueprint, and we don’t see this as a fad, it’s an inflection point. Expect snooker tables to replace pianos in homes, more kids wielding cues, and China to churn out more world-class players within years. Zhao was the spark, and the fire is just getting started.

China to Send Largest-ever Delegation to 2025 Chengdu World Games

China has unveiled a 489-member delegation, including 321 athletes, for the upcoming 2025 Chengdu World Games. The team will compete in 152 events across 28 sports, marking China's largest participation in the history of the Games. Read more on China Daily (English)

Liverpool FC Opens First Hong Kong Store at Kai Tak Sports Park

Liverpool FC has launched its first official standalone store in Hong Kong, the club's 20th global retail outlet, surpassing all other football clubs and major U.S. sports franchises in physical store count. Read more on Retail Asia (English)

Beijing Announced as host of the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in 2026

World Aquatics has announced that Beijing will host the upcoming World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in late 2026, following a competitive bidding process by the World Aquatics Bureau. The Chinese capital will welcome over 1,000 world-class athletes from more than 200 countries and regions to compete across six exciting competition days at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) – Beijing 2026. Read more on Swimming World (English)

Who is Yu Zidi? Meet China's Swimming Sensation, 12

Yu Zidi is a 12-year-old Chinese swimmer making her debut at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Yu is the second-youngest competitor in the history of the championships, and in her debut event, she reached the final of the 200m individual medley. Read more on BBC (English)

OPPO Hosts Legendary Badminton Showcase

OPPO Indonesia made history at Tennis Indoor Senayan by uniting nine badminton legends for the first time in Make Your Moment: From Our Badminton Pride, in collaboration with the Indonesia Olympians Association (IOA). Over 3,000 fans enjoyed fun matches featuring stars like Susy Susanti, Taufik Hidayat, and others in unique formats, from 3-on-3 to cross-generation duels. Read more on CNN Indonesia (Bahasa)

💡 Mailman Take: For Indonesian badminton, the event was a heartfelt celebration, bringing legends together and reminding fans why the sport means so much to the nation. For OPPO, it was a smart and meaningful step, building on their earlier support of football in Indonesia. By connecting with national pride and giving back through donations, OPPO has shown that they’re about more than just technology; they truly understand what matters to Indonesians. It’s a great example of a brand and culture coming together.

Samaranch Cup Basketball Masters Launches in Fujian

The 2025 Samaranch Cup Asian Basketball Masters Invitational, co-hosted by the Samaranch Foundation, Xinhua News Agency, and Jinjiang’s government, will run from October 2-6 in Fujian. This amateur tournament aims to boost grassroots fitness and further energise China’s thriving sports industry. Read more on China Daily (English)

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🎮 Esports

China to Host League of Legends Worlds

China will host the 2025 League of Legends World Championship, with matches kicking off in Beijing on October 14 and the final set for November 9 in Chengdu. Riot Games’ flagship esports tournament returns to China as the mainland’s esports sector rebounds, posting RMB 27.6 billion in revenue last year. 17 teams will compete for the Summoner’s Cup. Read more on KRAsia (English)

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