SCL Sports Lighting Supports the 3rd Asian School Students 3x3 Basketball Championship in Yueyang

The six-day international tournament highlights the importance of uniform illumination, glare control, and flexible lighting management in open-air sports venues.

On September 29, the 3rd Asian School Students 3x3 Basketball Championship concluded at Nanhu Square in Yueyang, Hunan Province, China. As the event’s sports lighting supplier, SCL Sports Lighting provided an LED sports lighting system to support the six-day tournament, helping create a clear and comfortable visual environment for players and spectators.

The final day delivered exciting competition. China Team 1 secured the men's title with a one-point comeback victory over Malaysia in the final 10 seconds. In the women's competition, China Team 1 defeated Thailand by a decisive margin. China Team 1 won both the men's and women's championships, while China Team 2 claimed third place in both categories.

The tournament brought together 19 teams and more than 100 student-athletes from nine Asian countries and regions.

Lighting Challenges in an Open-Air 3x3 Basketball Venue

Unlike conventional indoor basketball arenas, the competition venue at Nanhu Square was an open public space without high perimeter barriers. This setup allowed local residents to watch the games from the sidelines, but it also created specific challenges for sports lighting design.

The lighting system needed to provide clear visibility across the playing area while controlling light spill to minimize unwanted illumination and avoid disturbing spectators.

The fast pace of 3x3 basketball, with its frequent changes of possession and rapid player movements, also places high demands on lighting uniformity, color rendering, and glare control. The tournament followed the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 3x3 basketball competition standards, with results counting toward the FIBA 3x3 player ranking system.

LED Sports Lighting Designed for Clear Visibility

SCL Sports Lighting supplied an LED sports lighting system for the tournament, with luminaires installed around the court and on the overhead trusses. The lighting arrangement focused on four key performance requirements:

• Uniform illumination: Consistent light distribution across the playing surface helps reduce distracting bright and dark areas, supporting players' visual judgment during fast-paced action.

• High color rendering: Accurate color reproduction helps players, officials, and spectators distinguish jersey colors and follow the ball more clearly.

• Effective glare control: Recessed light sources and precise optical design help control direct glare and unwanted light spill, improving visual comfort for spectators around the court.

• Flexible lighting control: The system supports timely switching between different operating scenarios, including warm-ups, competition, and broadcast requirements.

These features demonstrate how professional LED sports lighting can address the practical demands of temporary or open-air competition venues while maintaining a comfortable viewing environment.

From Public Square to Competition Venue: Flexible Lighting Control

During the six-day event, Nanhu Square served two different purposes. During the day, it remained a public space for walking and recreation. After dark, it became an international youth basketball venue.

This transition highlights an important principle of sports lighting design: effective lighting is not simply about increasing brightness. It is about delivering the appropriate light levels, distribution, and control for each activity.

The intelligent lighting control system from SCL Sports Lighting supports one-touch switching between predefined lighting scenes. Training, competition, and broadcast operations can each use a corresponding lighting mode, helping simplify operation and adapt the venue to changing requirements.

After the event, the lighting can be adjusted to suit the square's regular public use, supporting the flexible use of urban spaces for both community activities and sporting events.

18 Years of Experience in Sports Lighting

With 18 years of experience in sports lighting, SCL Sports Lighting has developed expertise in LED sports lighting systems and venue-specific lighting solutions. The company has participated in the drafting of Chinese standards, including Technical Requirements for LED Sports Lighting Applications and Standard for Lighting Design of Outdoor Work Sites.

Its sports lighting project experience spans a range of major sporting events and venues, including the FISU World University Games, Asian Games, Military World Games, Asian School Games, WTA tournaments, CBA basketball, Chinese Super League football, UEFA-related competitions, ITTF events, and Badminton World Federation events.

Each project presents its own requirements for visibility, glare control, light distribution, and operational flexibility. Experience across different sports and venue types helps inform lighting solutions tailored to specific competition environments.

Looking Ahead to the Next Events in Hunan

At the closing ceremony, the flag of the Asian School Sport Federation was handed over from Yueyang to Changsha. The championships are scheduled to continue in Hunan in 2027 and 2028.

SCL Sports Lighting is proud to have supported the competition in Yueyang through its sports lighting provision. As sporting events continue to bring communities together, reliable and well-designed LED sports lighting remains an important part of creating safe, visually comfortable, and adaptable venues for athletes, spectators, and the wider public.