Elite Sports

What Elite Sports does

Elite Sports (legal name Elite International, previously Elite Sporting International) is a Nanjing, China-based B2B manufacturer and supplier of sports equipment founded in 1997 by Jessie Ding. The company produces and sells a broad portfolio spanning sports balls (football/soccer, basketball, volleyball, rugby, baseball, LED, and kids), personal protection gear, training equipment, yoga products, apparel, bags, and accessories, organized under sub-brands Glory, Wisefield, EasyLink, and TEBS. Its core technology stack centers on machine-stitched and hand-stitched ball production, proprietary thermo bonding used in FIFA Pro Quality footballs (32-panel, 4-layer construction), in-house R&D, and automated/smart manufacturing processes, with dedicated production capacity from a new factory established in Anhui, China in early 2020.

The business operates as a global B2B supplier to sports teams, organizations, large brands (since 2018), and government/sports associations, generating revenue through hardware sales, private-label/OEM supply, and partnership-led professional services. Distribution spans a five-region footprint: Nanjing headquarters, Anhui factory, Hong Kong (APAC), London (design), Balingen/Germany (sales and design), and New York (USA). The company leverages trade show participation (e.g., 136th Canton Fair, Spring 2024), direct sales, and strategic partnerships, and is differentiated by an extensive certification portfolio (FIFA Quality Pro, FIBA, FIVA, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, BSCI, Sedex/SMETA, HIGG Index, SEARS CR) that qualifies it for institutional and global brand supply. In February 2024, Elite was appointed exclusive partner of Kinexon Sports for China Football, Volleyball, and Ice Hockey markets, marking a strategic move into data-driven sports analytics products.

Name

Elite Sports

Legal name

Elite International

Website

https://elitesportsglobal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Elite Sports is a Nanjing, China-based B2B manufacturer and global supplier of certified sports equipment — including balls, protective gear, apparel, and training gear — serving sports teams, large brands, and sports associations worldwide through direct sales, OEM/private-label supply, and strategic partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Equipment Manufacturing

NAICS

Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (33992), Sporting and Recreational Goods and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (42391), Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Retailers (4591)

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949), Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYCRAOAJAA

Team Sports Equipment & Apparel Distribution

Consumer Products & Retail/Wholesale, Distribution & Category Management/Sporting Goods, Outdoor & Recreation Distribution

SECONDARYCRAAAEAE

Team Sports & On-Field Performance Apparel

Consumer Products & Retail/Apparel, Footwear & Accessories/Athleisure & Performance Wear

SECONDARYEDAEAIAG

Physical Education & Athletics Equipment (Gym, Sports Gear, Scoreboards)

Education/Education Facilities & Support Services/Education Supplies, Equipment & Furniture Procurement

SECONDARYCRAMAEAL

Team Sports Training Aids & Coaching Equipment Retail

Consumer Products & Retail/Sporting Goods & Outdoor Retail/Team Sports Equipment Retail

Keywords

• Sports equipment manufacturing
• Athletic balls and gear
• Team sports apparel
• Protective sports equipment
• FIFA certified footballs

Headquarters

HQ city

Nanjing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Sports Equipment Manufacturing & Sales: Elite Sports generates revenue through manufacturing and selling sports equipment including balls, training equipment, personal protection gear, apparel, bags, accessories, and yoga products to sports teams, organizations, and consumers globally.
2. Private Label / OEM Supply: Became trusted supplier for multiple large brands by 2018, supplying compliant products under their standards
3. Kinexon Sports Analytics Partnership: Exclusive partnership bringing innovative data-driven solutions to China sports markets

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Elite Sports manufactures and supplies a comprehensive portfolio of sports equipment including footballs, basketballs, volleyballs, rugby balls, baseballs, LED balls, kids balls, personal protection gear, training equipment, yoga products, apparel, bags, and accessories. The company serves sports teams, organizations, and large brands globally with FIFA/FIBA/FIVA certified professional-grade products as well as training and recreational tiers. Its sub-brands Glory, Wisefield, EasyLink, and TEBS address different customer segments from professional competition to youth and mass-market needs.

Product overview

Elite Sports is a global sports equipment supplier offering a comprehensive portfolio of sporting goods organized into seven main product categories: Sports Balls (football/soccer, basketball, volleyball, rugby, baseball, LED balls, and kids balls), Personal Protection (helmets, gloves, guards, braces), Training Equipment (ladders, hurdles, cones, nets, resistance equipment, timing devices), Yoga products, Apparel, Bags, and Accessories. The product line ranges from professional FIFA/FIBA/FIVA certified competition equipment to recreational and training-grade products, with sub-brands including Glory (professional line) and specialized offerings like Wisefield and EasyLink. The company positions itself as a one-stop supplier for teams and organizations seeking equipment across multiple sports disciplines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wisefield: In-house brand established in 2019 to cater to diverse customer needs
• EasyLink
• Glory
• TEBS

Products and services

• Football & Soccer Balls Association footballs for professional match play, training, recreation, futsal, indoor, and light/LED variants, targeted at sports teams, leagues, academies, schools, and brands under private label.
• Basketballs Basketballs across FIBA Quality, Match Quality, Training Quality, and Recreational Quality tiers, with composite leather and deep channel construction for teams, schools, and consumers.
• Volleyballs Volleyballs in FIVA Quality, Match Quality, Beach, Training, and Recreational variants with synthetic leather covers and wound carcass construction for indoor and beach play.
• Rugby Balls Professional quality rugby balls with moisture-absorption PU composite leather cover, textured grip surface, and butyl rubber bladder for air and shape retention, targeted at rugby clubs and schools.
• Baseballs Regulation-size baseballs with batting metrics tracking via SwingTracker bat sensor (barrel speed, acceleration, attack angle) and DK App for iOS, for teams and training academies.
• LED Sports Balls Glow-in-the-dark basketballs, soccer balls, footballs, and volleyballs with impact-activated LED lights (up to 30 hours battery life), deep channel construction, and durable rubber materials for indoor and outdoor play.
• Kids Sports Balls Child-friendly sports balls including Galaxy squeeze balls and kids-sized footballs with colorful designs, targeted at youth academies, schools, and parents.
• Personal Protection Gear Protective sports gear including helmets, goalkeeper gloves, shin guards, kneepads, elbow guards, ankle braces, wrist guards, waist supports, gum shields, headbands, and bandages for rugby, soccer, flag football, and other contact sports.
• Training Equipment Athletic training equipment including training ladders, agility hurdles, cone discs, mark cones, goals, nets, resistance parachutes, resistance bands, response catchers, speed response timers, basketball hoops, and soccer trainers for teams, schools, and individual athletes.
• Yoga Products Yoga mats, yoga balls, yoga wheels, stretchers, balance air cushions, and yoga blocks designed for athletes, available for individual consumers, gyms, and teams.
• Sports Apparel Sports apparel for teams and individuals including team uniforms, men's, women's, teens', and kids' clothing, caps, masks, towels, and anti-perspirant towels.
• Sports Bags Sports bags including drawstring bags, ball bags, shoe bags, ball backpacks, backpacks, trolley bags, and duffle gym bags for teams, schools, and individual athletes.
• Sports Accessories Sports accessories including pumps with ergonomic push-pull delivery, dual-scale barometers (kg/cm² and PSI), PVC-coated steel wire jump ropes, 120dB whistles, and BPA-free Tritan water bottles.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ball certification by FIFA, FIBA, FIVA for professional play
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Kinexon SportscoreTechnology or Integration · 29 February 2024Elite appointed as exclusive partner of Kinexon Sports in China's Football, Volleyball, and Ice Hockey markets. Kinexon is the global leader in sports tracking and analytics, bringing innovative data-driven solutions that revolutionize performance analysis in the sports industry.
• Leatherware PVT (Pakistan)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Game-changing joint venture with Leatherware PVT in 2000 that propelled the company's global influence to new heights in hand-stitched ball production.
• MitsubishimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with Mitsubishi as part of the company's supply chain and manufacturing excellence initiatives.
• Women Football Clubs in ChinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Women Football Clubs in China to promote football across various levels and preserve the sport's history, demonstrating commitment to diversity and inclusivity.
• Nanjing Football AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with Nanjing Football Association; Founder Jessie Ding appointed Vice President in 2017. Collaboration to cultivate football development at local levels.
• China Football AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation with China Football Association to support football development across various levels in China.
• FIFAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with FIFA for certification and promotion of football internationally, ensuring products meet global standards.
• JiangSu and Anhui Provincial GovernmentsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with provincial governments for local sports development and establishment of manufacturing facilities in Anhui.
• Education Ministry (China)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Education Ministry to found Football Academy for youth development, discipline, teamwork, and cross-cultural learning experiences.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Adidas: Global sports brand with major ball, apparel, and equipment franchises (including FIFA partnerships) — incumbent competitor across Elite's core categories and a potential OEM customer.
• Decathlon: Global sporting goods retailer and private-label manufacturer across all of Elite's categories (balls, apparel, training, yoga) — broad incumbent pressure on price and distribution channels.
• Nike: Global sports brand with broad ball, apparel, and equipment lines — incumbent competitor and potential OEM customer for Elite's manufacturing capacity.

Direct peers

• Mikasa Corporation: Japanese manufacturer specializing in volleyballs, basketballs, and soccer balls, supplying leagues and federations globally — closely mirrors Elite's ball-centric product mix and federation partnerships.
• Uhlsport: German manufacturer of goalkeeper gloves and team-sport equipment — overlaps with Elite's personal protection line (especially goalkeeper gloves) and German market presence via Balingen office.
• Mitre Sports: UK-based heritage ball and team-sports equipment manufacturer with global B2B distribution — directly comparable to Elite's UK presence, ball focus, and broad team-sports equipment catalog.
• Hummel International: Danish team-sports brand manufacturing kits, balls, and equipment — comparable to Elite's apparel, ball, and equipment portfolio serving sports teams and federations.
• Molten Corporation: Japanese manufacturer of basketballs, volleyballs, and footballs with FIBA and FIVB approvals — directly comparable to Elite's FIBA/FIVA-certified ball portfolio and OEM/private-label supply model.
• Select Sport: Danish manufacturer of FIFA Quality Pro certified footballs and team-sport balls — Elite's most direct comparable given the same FIFA Pro certification, ball focus, and global B2B distribution model.

Others

• Kinexon GmbH: Sports-tracking and analytics partner of Elite; comparable as an adjacent technology provider rather than a competitor, but central to Elite's forward technology positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/EliteInternationalLTD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nanjing-elite-sports

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Elite Sports