At 5:30 a.m. on the basketball court of the Hanchuan Gymnasium, Yun Heming begins his day with a familiar routine of jogging, leg stretches, and jump shots. As the president of the Hanchuan Basketball Association, Yun has maintained this pre-dawn training habit for more than thirty years.
Early Beginnings on Muddy Courts
Yun first encountered basketball over fifty years ago during a high school physical education class. Without formal equipment or early coaching, he spent his youth chasing basketballs across uneven dirt courts that remained unplayable for days after rainfall. His commitment shifted after watching an exhibition match between senior students, whose precise passing and shooting inspired him to study basketball instructional guides and practice fundamental drills independently.
Decades of Training and Municipal Honors
After entering the workforce in urban Hanchuan, Yun transitioned from a recreational player into a team captain and municipal competitor. He secured the “Xiannv Cup” championship for his workplace team, won gold medals at two Xiaogan City Urban Games, and represented the Xiaogan Public Security Bureau in provincial competitions. His career milestone occurred in 2019, when he helped the Xiaogan squad capture a gold medal at the Hubei Province Three-on-Three Basketball Tournament, marking the first gold medal in Hubei province basketball competitions for Xiaogan.
Expanding Community Basketball Through the Chuan-BA
Following his election as the president of the Hanchuan Basketball Association, Yun turned his focus toward organizing grassroots tournaments. He helped establish the local “Chuan-BA” league, securing early sponsorship through persistent visits to municipal work units while managing scheduling, facility setup, and safety protocols. Under his administration, the annual tournament expanded from eight competing squads to twenty-four participating teams across multiple age brackets and municipal sectors.
National Invitations and Continuing Play
Beyond his administrative duties, Yun continues to compete in senior basketball divisions. In May 2025, he traveled to Guizhou to represent the Hubei Jiutouniao squad at the inaugural Taijiang “Village BA” Senior Invitational, finishing as tournament runners-up. In December 2025, he joined the Hubei Jianghan Plain team at the Haikou Senior International Basketball Invitational in Hainan, securing a third-place finish against domestic and international competition.
Worth a look
