“Do children love basketball?” “Yes!” On the evening of December 19, the Taizhou team played against the Yuyao team in the “Zhejiang BA” arena. A special group of young spectators were welcomed – 10 basketball teenagers from Xuanzhu Primary School in Sanmen County. On the field, they not only followed the players on the court and participated in the exchange of gifts between the players of the two teams, but also received a heart-warming surprise: “Made in Taizhou” basketballs and sneakers donated by caring companies.
“It’s a good thing that children love sports. I’m very happy that I can do my best for the children.” Looking at the joy in the children’s eyes, Lin Jie, the representative of Wenling Caring Enterprise, said.
On the field, exciting duels between players from both sides in transition between offense and defense continued to take place. The children on the sidelines waved cheering sticks and cheered for the Taizhou team with loud voices. Every steal, pass and score could draw their heartfelt cheers.
“I used to watch football games through the screen. Today, I saw them passing people, jumping shots, and defending in front of my eyes. So fast and so close, I can even hear the sound of sneakers scraping the floor clearly. I have to train hard, and one day, I will stand under such lights.” Lei Haoyu, a sixth-grade student at Xuanzhu Primary School, stood on the sidelines, his eyes following the figure running on the field.
“I never thought I could take my children into a professional arena and interact with professional players. I hope this experience can become a lasting motivation for their growth.” Ke Cuijun, coach of the basketball team of Xuanzhu Primary School, said with emotion that such close contact can allow children to truly touch the charm of basketball and plant the seeds of their dreams. Maybe in the future, some of them will contribute to Sanmen and Taizhou’s basketball career.
The joy of realizing the dream has quietly accumulated during the day’s interactions. That morning, while the Taizhou team was preparing for the game at the Linhai Gymnasium, the children were there to observe the whole process. After the training, the players took the initiative to carry out interactive teaching and gave step-by-step guidance on practical skills such as dribbling and shooting. The children learned very seriously.
“I’m really, really happy! I’ve only seen some of the passing moves my brothers taught me in videos before, and I finally learned them today!” Li Boxuan, a student at Xuanzhu Primary School, said with excitement in his voice. “The most unforgettable thing for me is watching them train, and the floor is wet with sweat. I just thought that in the future I will be like them, not afraid of hardship or tiredness.”
This group of teenagers who returned home with great achievements are from the basketball team of Xuanzhu Primary School in Sanmen County. In this campus with nearly 600 students, more than half are children of migrant workers who came with their parents to work. This basketball team is composed of fifth and sixth grade students. The players come from all over the country and get together because of basketball.
They were once “novices” who couldn’t even shoot the ball stably. Now, relying on hard training every morning and night, they have gradually grown into the “dark horses” of the county’s primary school basketball circles. For them, basketball is not only a love of after-school life, but also a bond that connects each other and condenses emotions. And this pure and persistent love also deeply moved the players of “Zhejiang BA”.
“It can be seen that they like basketball very much. When we are training, we can hear them discussing basketball things. I hope they can always maintain their original aspirations, shine on the basketball court in the future, and grow up healthily with their love for basketball!” Taizhou team player Wang Ziyu said.
“Lighting the Heart Lamp: Action for Left-behind Children in Mountain Areas to Realize their Dreams” is jointly launched by Zhejiang Satellite TV and China Blue News Client, and has now entered its third season. This group of basketball-loving children once made simple and sincere wishes: “I want a basketball of the same style as the ‘Zhejiang BA'”, “I want a pair of basketball shoes”, “I hope to train with the players of the ‘Zhejiang BA'”… These wishes have touched countless people. Today, through the dream-realization model of “media bridge building, social relay, and dreams come true”, children’s hearts are illuminated and their growth is illuminated.
Reporters: Zhu Lin, Chen Neng, Mening Sa
Original title: “Dream Come True!” These children finally met the person they “missed”
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