ANTA drives the future of the sports industry through technology and innovation

QUANZHOU, 22 September 2026 (TATOLI) – ANTA Group continues to drive the future of the sports industry through technological development and innovation, ranging from ultra-lightweight shoes and specialized equipment for athletes to carbon-based sole technology and the use of materials that support environmental sustainability.

The innovations were showcased to a delegation of media representatives from ASEAN countries during a visit to ANTA Group’s headquarters in Jinjiang, a county-level city under the administration of Quanzhou City in Fujian Province, China, on Tuesday.

The visit was part of the ASEAN Media Workshop program in Fujian. In the morning, the delegation left the hotel for the ANTA Group complex to learn firsthand about the company’s development, multi-brand business strategy, sports research and technology, and product innovation.

The visit began at the 982 Center, which houses one of ANTA Group’s largest multi-brand exhibition spaces globally. The first floor showcases the company’s various brands and products, while the second floor serves as its brand center.

The name “982 Center” is closely linked to ANTA’s early history. It was derived from shoe model No. 982, the 82nd model produced during the company’s early development period between 1991 and 1994.

ANTA’s origins date back to 1982, when the business began as a family workshop. In 1991, ANTA was officially established as a brand and subsequently grew from Jinjiang, Quanzhou, expanding its business into international markets.

In 1999, ahead of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, ANTA launched an advertising campaign under the slogan “I Choose, I Like,” becoming one of the first Chinese sports brands to conduct large-scale advertising on CCTV.

The company was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2007 and began cooperating with China’s Olympic sports programs in 2009. In the same year, FILA joined ANTA’s brand portfolio.

Its multi-brand strategy continued to expand. DESCENTE and KOLON SPORT joined the portfolio in 2016 and 2017 respectively, while ANTA completed the acquisition of Amer Sports in 2019.

The group later acquired MAIA ACTIVE in 2023. A year later, Amer Sports was listed on the New York Stock Exchange, while in 2025 ANTA Group completed the full acquisition of German outdoor brand Jack Wolfskin.

The group currently has two independently listed companies and nearly 17 brands operating under the two business groups.

According to data presented during the visit, ANTA Group recorded revenue of approximately RMB43.51 billion in the first half of 2026, while Amer Sports posted revenue of around US$3.578 billion.

ANTA Group’s retail network in China has also surpassed 13,000 stores.

In 2025, ANTA Group and Amer Sports China contributed approximately RMB12.7 billion in taxes. The group’s business ecosystem also supports more than 1,000 companies across its supply chain and around 280,000 direct and indirect jobs.

ANTA’s headquarters is located in Jinjiang, Quanzhou, and is equipped with various research facilities, including a sports science laboratory and research and innovation centers.

In addition to Jinjiang, the company has two other major operational centers in Xiamen and Shanghai, which support the management of the various brands within its portfolio.

ANTA also operates an integrated logistics complex described as one of the world’s largest smart logistics centers for apparel and footwear at a single location, with an annual shipping capacity of approximately 300 million products.

Technology for athletes

One of the highlights of the visit was the range of technologies developed by ANTA to meet the needs of professional athletes.

Among them was a suit developed for China’s national short-track speed skating team, dubbed the “shark skin on ice.”

The suit is designed to help protect athletes from cuts caused by skate blades. According to the guide, the material has Level 4 cut resistance and is approximately 15 times stronger than steel wire.

ANTA also showcased specialized shoes developed for China’s national weightlifting team. The shoes are designed to withstand loads of up to approximately one ton and provide strong grip to help prevent athletes from slipping while lifting heavy weights.

This type of shoe was worn by Chinese weightlifter Li Fabin when he won a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. ANTA’s weightlifting shoe technology is now also used by professional athletes from around eight countries outside China.

In the running category, ANTA displayed one of its ultra-lightweight shoes, weighing only around 99 grams per shoe in size 41.

An earlier model from the series was even taken aboard China’s Shenzhou-12 and Shenzhou-13 space missions.

In addition to lightweight shoes, ANTA develops professional marathon footwear featuring continuously evolving technologies, including full-length carbon plates in the sole to support runners’ performance.

The company also introduced its Nitrogen Technology, which uses nitrogen in the foam manufacturing process to produce lighter shoe soles.

Several models are developed to accommodate the characteristics and running styles of professional athletes, including runners who generate more power from the forefoot.

More than 7,600 patents

ANTA’s technological development is supported by investment in research and innovation.

The company is said to have accumulated more than 7,600 patents covering product designs, technologies, and various other inventions.

One of the innovations showcased was “Artificial Skeleton Technology,” which is applied to basketball shoe soles.

The technology uses a sole system with adjustable stiffness. Four carbon rods located beneath the sole can move forward and backward.

When the carbon rods move toward the forefoot, the system can provide additional support during jumping movements.

The technology was jointly developed by ANTA and the Chinese Academy of Sciences and is said to involve around 18 patents.

Basketball is also one of ANTA’s core sports categories. International basketball players, including Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving, have partnerships with ANTA Basketball.

Shoes for professional athletes are developed based on individual data and foot shape, allowing them to be customized according to each athlete’s needs. One example on display was a customized size-53 shoe made for former Argentine basketball player Luis Scola.

Innovation towards net-zero by 2050

Beyond sports performance, ANTA is also developing technologies and materials aimed at sustainability through its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy.

The company is targeting net-zero emissions, or carbon neutrality, by 2050 through the development of various technological approaches and the increased use of natural and renewable materials.

These include bio-based materials and seaweed fibers. The company is also developing circular technologies that allow used textiles to be recycled and transformed into higher-value materials.

Another innovation is carbon capture technology

According to the explanation provided during the visit, captured carbon dioxide can be reused to produce carbon-based materials or products. In the production of one type of T-shirt, each item is said to utilize approximately 100 grams of captured carbon dioxide.

ANTA also continues to explore the use of carbon fiber and other innovative materials in the development of sports apparel and footwear.

The company has a long-standing relationship with Chinese sports and has supplied various types of equipment and apparel for athletes at several editions of the Olympic Games.

One example is the podium uniform for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which combines technology with elements of Chinese culture. The uniform features embossed patterns resembling dragon scales, while several details draw inspiration from the shape of a dragon’s head.

The range of innovations showcased at ANTA’s headquarters in Jinjiang reflects the company’s transformation from a family business in Quanzhou into a sports group with an international presence, while strengthening its investment in research, sports technology, products for professional athletes, and the development of more sustainable materials.

After completing the visit to ANTA Group, the ASEAN media delegation continued to the Jinjiang Wudianshi Traditional Blocks in Quanzhou to learn more about the area’s historical, architectural, and cultural heritage as part of the ASEAN Media Workshop program in Fujian Province.

Journalist: Cidalia Fátima

Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo