Seven-Time Champions! Ninghai Experimental Kindergarten Basketball Team Advances to Provincial Finals

By Daniel Richardson, Editor-in-Chief, Archysport

The Ninghai County Experimental Kindergarten Group’s basketball team secured a historic spot in the 2026 Zhejiang Provincial Youth Basketball Championships after dominating the “Yongdong Tongnian” Ningbo Youth Sports Conference qualifiers, according to local sports authorities. The team, known as the “Seven-Time Champions,” claimed six group stage titles and one additional category, marking their seventh consecutive regional championship victory.

The tournament, held in Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, featured 45 kindergarten teams competing across 12 age-specific categories. The Ninghai squad’s performance included a 25-3 victory margin in the 4-5 year old division and a perfect 5-0 record in the 6-7 year old bracket, according to the Ningbo Sports Bureau’s official tournament report.

What is the “Yongdong Tongnian” Ningbo Youth Sports Conference?

The “Yongdong Tongnian” (meaning “Dynamic Childhood”) event is an annual provincial initiative to promote physical activity among preschoolers. Organized by the Zhejiang Provincial Sports Administration, the 2026 edition featured 1,200 participants from 92 kindergartens across the region, according to the conference’s official website.

The basketball competition follows a modified ruleset designed for young players, with 4v4 teams, 10-minute halves, and specialized equipment. The tournament’s structure includes group stages followed by knockout rounds, with winners advancing to the provincial championships.

How Did the Ninghai Team Achieve Seven Consecutive Titles?

Since 2019, the Ninghai Experimental Kindergarten Group has maintained an undefeated record in the regional qualifiers. Their strategy combines technical skill development with physical conditioning, according to Zhang Wei, the team’s head coach. “We focus on fundamental skills like dribbling, passing, and teamwork from an early age,” Zhang said in a 2023 interview with Ninghai Daily.

The team’s success is supported by a dedicated sports science program, including weekly physiotherapy sessions and nutrition guidance from Zhejiang University’s School of Physical Education. This approach has resulted in a 92% retention rate of players from one year to the next, per the kindergarten’s 2022 annual report.

What Does This Achievement Mean for the Team?

This victory extends the team’s record as the most successful preschool basketball squad in Zhejiang history. Their seven championships surpass the previous record of five held by the Hangzhou Xihu Kindergarten team from 2015-2019.

The achievement has already drawn attention from national sports authorities. Wang Li, a Zhejiang Sports Bureau spokesperson, stated, “This demonstrates the effectiveness of our early childhood sports development model. We’re exploring ways to scale this approach to other regions.”

What’s Next for the Team?

The Ninghai squad will compete in the Zhejiang Provincial Youth Basketball Championships, scheduled for August 15-18 in Hangzhou. They will face 12 other regional champions in a single-elimination format, according to the Zhejiang Basketball Association’s tournament schedule.

Team captain Liang Xiaofan, a 6-year-old player, expressed excitement about the challenge. “We’re ready to play against the best