Xinhua News Agency, Tianjin, July 21st. Title: Plant the seeds of a basketball dream
Xinhua News Agency reporter Yin Siyuan
In a basketball hall in Jinnan District, Tianjin, 11-year-old Wang Qihan is earnestly training basic basketball skills. Dribbling, layup, shooting… During the summer vacation, he would come here for two hours of basketball training every day from 8 am to 10 am. He started playing basketball at the age of four and a half, and for more than six years, basketball has been his best friend.
“I feel very confident standing on the basketball court.” Wang Qihan said.
Song Xingxia, Wang Qihan’s mother, said that basketball has gradually transformed her shy son into a cheerful and optimistic boy.
Because the whole family is a basketball fan, Wang Qihan has often gone to the home court of the Tianjin team to watch basketball games with his family since he was more than 1 year old. “It may be because of his childhood influence, when he stood on the basketball court for the first time at the age of four and a half, he looked like a decent person.” Song Xingxia said, “But he was always shy at first and was reluctant to talk to his friends.”
After a long time of basketball training, Wang Qihan learned to communicate with his teammates on and off the court. In the team, Wang Qihan is the youngest one. With the help of his teammates and brothers, this young man gradually opened his heart.
“What makes me gratified is that after several years of collective training, Wang Qihan has become a person who can reconcile in the middle, and is no longer a ‘little transparent’ huddled in the corner. “Song Xingxia said.
Wang Qihan’s Huiying U12 team won the U12 men’s championship in the recently concluded 2022 China Small Basketball Series Events Tianjin Series Events. Coach Song Baohua said: “Wang Qihan is younger than the other players. In this age group, the difference of one year is very big. It is rare that he can overcome this gap and play well.”
Song Baohua believes that it was a key ball in the basketball game that changed Wang Qihan’s mentality. “In one game in 2019, he hit a key free throw with 2 seconds left. He’s been noticeably more confident since then.”
The Liutai Primary School team of Lv Jiayi, who just graduated from primary school, won the U12 women’s championship in this competition. Like Wang Qihan, Lv Jiayi also experienced happiness and progress in basketball. “Not only boys can play basketball, but girls can also play well.” Lu Jiayi said, “I used to regard basketball as a hobby, and I slowly felt a sense of accomplishment through persistence and hard work, so I continued to persevere. down.”
“After she started playing basketball, she obviously felt more attentive to her studies. This year, she was awarded the title of Tianjin Municipal Three-Good Student. We, as parents, are very pleased and happy for her,” said Lu Jiayi’s father.
The vigorous development of youth basketball is inseparable from the influence of the environment. Pang Chao, Director of the Training and Competition Division of Tianjin Sports Bureau, introduced that in recent years, Tianjin has carried out various youth sports competitions at all levels, and actively encourages districts, associations and social sports forces to organize and participate in colorful youth competitions. Guide young people to actively participate in physical exercise and promote young people to form a healthy lifestyle. “In 2021, Tianjin will organize the highest-level city-level youth competitions in 27 sports including basketball, volleyball, track and field, swimming, and badminton, with 19,000 youth athletes participating in the competition,” Pang Chao said.
“In the future, I don’t necessarily have to take the road of professional basketball, but for me, basketball is like a seed. If there is a suitable opportunity, it can take root and grow up.” Wang Qihan said.
