--- title: "Anta's Rise | Model Diplomat" description: "Anta's rapid growth in China is gaining market share and posing a serious threat to Nike and Adidas, reshaping the competitive landscape of global sportswear." url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/story/antas-rise-a-major-threat-to-nike-and-adidas-in-china" --- # Anta's Rise Anta leverages China's market to challenge global sportswear giants. Model DiplomatApril 29, 20263 min readAsia [The Straits TimesStruggling Nike will cut around 1,400 jobs | The Straits Times](https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/struggling-nike-will-cut-around-1400-jobs)[South China Morning PostAdidas gets running lift from 2 sub-2-hour runs, 2 world records at London Marathon | South China Morning Post](https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3351558/adidas-gets-running-lift-2-sub-2-hour-runs-2-world-records-london-marathon) ## Anta’s China Edge Is Now Nike and Adidas’ Big Risk *Anta is converting China market scale, lower prices and political fit into leverage as Nike and Adidas lose ground in their old growth engine.* BBC’s latest China coverage highlights **Anta** as the Chinese sports brand now taking on **Nike** and **Adidas**. The real shift is bigger than one company’s rise: **Anta** has become the market leader in China sportswear, with roughly **23%** share in **2025**, and is now using that home-market strength to push outward through acquisitions, including a deal to buy about **29% of Puma** for roughly **€1.5 billion**. That gives **Ding Shizhong’s** group leverage on two fronts — it can squeeze foreign brands in China while building a broader global portfolio of labels and distribution. [With Puma stake, China’s Anta seeks to enter the arena with Nike and Adidas](http://www.straitstimes.com/business/with-puma-stake-chinas-anta-seeks-to-enter-the-arena-with-nike-and-adidas "straitstimes.com") [China’s Anta becoming top Puma shareholder with $2.3 billion stake](https://straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/chinas-anta-sports-muscles-in-with-2-3-billion-move-for-29-1-puma-stake "straitstimes.com") ## Why Anta has the leverage **China** used to be a growth engine for Western sportswear groups. It is now a pressure point. **Nike’s Greater China revenue declined for a fifth straight quarter** through the end of August, and management has warned that China remains a longer recovery story amid stronger domestic competition. [Nike reports surprise sales growth, but CEO warns of more work ahead amid tariffs, China drag](https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/nike-reports-surprise-sales-growth-but-ceo-warns-of-more-work-ahead-amid-tariffs-china-drag "straitstimes.com") Anta’s advantage is not only nationalist branding. Analysts also point to a simpler commercial fact: Chinese consumers increasingly see domestic brands as good enough — and often better value. **SCMP** reports that local players have gained ground because they offer improving design and durability at lower prices, while some consumers no longer see the premium for global labels as justified. [From swoosh to local: Nike loses ground in China as domestic rivals start to sprint](http://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3337213/swoosh-local-nike-loses-ground-china-domestic-rivals-start-sprint "scmp.com") Politics amplified that trend. After some Western brands distanced themselves from **Xinjiang cotton** in **2021**, Chinese brands including **Anta** and **Li Ning** publicly backed it, helping local firms capture market share in a politically charged consumer environment. **Jefferies** now expects more than **5% year-on-year growth** in China sportswear retail sales in the first two months of **2026**, with domestic brands leading the rebound. [Warm winter no match: China’s sportswear sector posts surprise growth](http://scmp.com/business/article/3345011/warm-winter-no-match-chinas-sportswear-sector-posts-surprise-growth "scmp.com") ## Who gains, who loses The immediate winner is **Anta**, because it can serve multiple price points through a portfolio model — mass market, premium outdoor, women’s activewear, and now a deeper link to a European global brand. That is a different playbook from building one flagship logo. It also fits the broader competition story in [Global Politics](https://modeldiplomat.com/discover/general "modeldiplomat.com") and [international markets](https://modeldiplomat.com/discover/international "modeldiplomat.com"): Chinese firms are no longer just defending the home market; they are using it as a base for outward consolidation. The losers are clearest in the income statement. **Nike** and **Adidas** are not just losing sales in China; they are losing pricing power and cultural centrality in a market that once justified premium valuations. [Nike reports surprise sales growth, but CEO warns of more work ahead amid tariffs, China drag](https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/nike-reports-surprise-sales-growth-but-ceo-warns-of-more-work-ahead-amid-tariffs-china-drag "straitstimes.com") ## What to watch next Watch two things. First, whether **Anta** turns its **Puma** stake into operational influence rather than passive ownership. Second, whether the next **Nike** and **Adidas** China results show stabilization or another leg down. If foreign brands cannot recover share in China, Anta’s rise stops being a domestic success story and becomes a global competitive threat. 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