A sub-one-minute video featuring nine-year-old student Chen Zhitong outmaneuvering an adult basketball blogger in Zhaoqing went viral in late October, accumulating over one million views across online platforms. The footage shows the third-grade primary student lowering her shoulders, executing crossover dribbles, and sinking a basket past an opponent more than a head taller than her. Viewers in online comment sections repeatedly praised her composure under pressure.
Daily Practice Routines in Apartment Corridors
The viral clip captured a routine moment in Chen Zhitong’s daily life, which centers around training sessions in residential corridors and basement parking lots in Zhaoqing. Her father, Chen Dejie, an amateur basketball enthusiast who competed in the “Spring Festival Village BA,” initially trained her older brother. Chen Zhitong began joining the sessions at age six, eventually showing a deep affinity for the sport.
Family members initially expressed concern over the physical demands placed on such a young child, recalling how stretching sessions brought tears to her eyes. Despite the initial hesitation from her mother, Liang Minyi, the young player maintained her training schedule. Her father noted her persistence through difficult footwork drills involving behind-the-back and between-the-legs maneuvers.
Parents Prioritize Academics over Online Attention
Following the unexpected online attention, her parents emphasized that academic studies remain her primary obligation, maintaining a distance from the internet. Liang Minyi stated that the family originally posted the footage to document her childhood growth rather than to pursue commercial opportunities or monetization. Her teacher, Meng Huanping, noted that after the video circulated among classmates, Chen Zhitong maintained her focus during lessons, showing no signs of distraction.
School Officials Integrate Sports into Education Framework
At Zhaoqing No. 16 Primary School, physical education teacher Cai Zhenqiang, who has coached girls’ basketball for 19 years, observed that her ball-handling skills advanced significantly. School officials, including party committee deputy secretary He Jiaying, noted that the institution incorporates sports into its broader educational framework, including a “no homework day” on Wednesdays, and encourages students to develop athletic discipline alongside academic growth.
Young Athlete Maintains Standard Training Routine
Despite the sudden influx of online visibility, the young athlete continues her standard routine of schoolwork and evening basketball practice. Her father stated that any future athletic opportunities would be evaluated to help more people recognize her and to help her connect with basketball school coaches, while her personal goals remain focused on improving her shooting form and participating in competitive youth tournaments.
Keep reading
