As the U18 women's football finals of China's 15th National Games kicked off in Gaungdong's Zhaoqing on Friday (June 13), the spotlight also fell on Zhaoqing's thriving sports gear manufacturing industry, key to its identity as the Greater Bay Area's "City of Sport."
Covering the ongoing U18 women's football finals, reporters visited two leading local sports equipment manufacturers – Cougar and Guangdong V9 – whose products reach customers in over 80 countries.
Cougar: The secret as state gift to President of Finland - offering value & quality for money
Cougar's skates were presented to President of Finland as state gift.
Wen Siyuan, founder of Cougar roller skates, highlighted their international competitive edge. "Our products are truly global, sold across Europe, the US, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia," Wen stated. "Our latest aggressive inline skates are even used by world champions." He emphasized the value proposition: "Chinese manufacturing is strong and advanced. Our quality matches or surpasses foreign brands, but our prices are significantly more competitive."
Cougar roller skates
Cougar tailors solutions for diverse global markets. Wen explained regional preferences: "Ice sports dominate in Nordic countries and Russia, while roller skating is big in domestic market, Europe, and especially Eastern Europe. Globally, adult skates lead, but in the domestic market are primarily children's skates."
Quality is paramount, Wen revealed. Investment in international design and innovation underpins this: "We employ foreign designers for international appeal and hold patents for our unique adjustment mechanisms, appearance designs, and specialized materials."
Guangdong V9: Quality draws clients referrals
Guangdong V9 produces snow sports gear mostly for foreign brands.
At Guangdong V9, a top original equipment manufacturer of snow sports gear, Deputy Manager Zou Jieyi detailed their rigorous quality control. "Our factory has its own testing equipment – elasticity testers, impact machines, torsion testers. We strictly test samples before production, and clients conduct their own tests with skiers before mass orders."
V9's success stems from deep international understanding. "Our initial orders were foreign," Zou noted. "We adapt products to different countries' consumption habits. Our quality wins recognition, leading to client referrals and a growing customer base. Export sales remain our core market."
Zhaoqing's conducive business environment fuels business ambitions
Both companies lauded Zhaoqing for its conducive sports business conditions. Zou Jieyi specifically mentioned "care and support for enterprises, including spacious and affordable venues, and good workers benefits that help retain talents".
Wen Siyuan echoed this confidence in Zhaoqing's manufacturing prowess, concluding, "We are now building our own international brand, aiming for the top tier. We firmly believe in our manufacturing capabilities and the dedication of our industrial enterprises."
Reporter/Script | Huang Xinyi
Video & Poster ｜ Guo Hongda
Photo | Guo Hongda
Editor | Hu Nan, James, Shen He
