The China High School Basketball League (CHBL) will expand from 84 teams in three provinces to 327 teams in 22 provinces, after a new sponsorship deal between US sportswear giant Nike and the China School Sports Federation.
Nike will provide playing apparel for all teams in the league, which will also have a new playoff competition format. The 327 teams will be made up of 264 men’s teams and 108 women’s teams.
Angela Dong, the general manager and vice-president of Nike Greater China, said: “We believe that by continuing to work side-by-side with CSSF, Nike will spare no effort to help further promote the development and culture of school basketball in China and to make sport a daily habit.”
The partnership is part of a post-2019 Fiba World Cup strategy to advance competitive and grassroots basketball in China, which hosted the tournament earlier this month.
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