Looking for folk sports experts | National champion! 8-year-old Chongqing "Little Warrior" relies on his strength to realize his dream

Editor's note

Love, struggle, sports are like a microcosm of life, everyone has their own story.

Chongqing Municipal Sports Bureau jointly launched the "2025 Finding Folk Sports Experts" activity, sharing citizens' sports stories and sports life, and showing the development of Chongqing's national fitness cause and the positive and loving spirit of the people in the mountain city.

This summer will be unforgettable for four Chongqing children, including Liu Xingyu, Dai Yan, Xu Mingxi and Zhou Xingchen.

In August, NBA star Stephen Curry's only trip to Asia landed in Chongqing. Thousands of fans gathered in the mountain city just to see the idol's style. Among them, a Chongqing Youth Basketball Team composed of four 8-year-old boys won the national championship with their own efforts and won the opportunity to face the idol library.

8-year-old "Little Warriors" national championship!

Liu Xingyu, Dai Yan, Xu Mingxi, Zhou Xingchen, four children who are only 8 years old form the "Chongqing Warriors Team" to participate in the U8 group of Under Armour Youth 3X3 Basketball China Open just to get to the highest podium and meet idol Curry.

The children won the national championship.

"Since the age of six or seven, they have been teaming up to participate in various competitions, from Chongqing to Hunan, and then to the national arena, they have left their struggles." Team coach Liu Gongcheng said that these children "is not the first time they have become champions", but the weight of this national championship is still exciting.

From the Chongqing competition area to the national finals, the children have gained joy and suffered setbacks. Liu Gongcheng introduced that the real test of the game on children lies in their mentality, "Basketball will not deceive anyone, attitude determines everything."

Liu Xingyu was in the game.

In order to prepare for this competition, after class every day, in addition to regular basic skills and tactical training, the children will also actively request an additional 30 to 40 minutes of physical and technical training. "Coach, do you want to practice more?" has almost become their catchphrase.

Zhou Xingchen is in the game.

Liu Gongcheng believes that the biggest advantage of this team is its temperament - it can quickly get into the state after playing and be serious and focused on the game. "They have the spirit of not being afraid of losing at a young age."

One summer, the children grew up

Children formed a relationship because of basketball. For this game, they trained hard and finally reached the highest podium, making their dreams come true. The four little boys finally got the opportunity to have an intimate interaction with NBA star Stephen Curry and Chinese player Zhu Zheng.

The children took a photo with Curry and Zhu Zheng.

Liu Xingyu was one of the children who interacted that day. When recalling the scene of interacting with his idol that day, he was still very excited. "I am so happy to shake hands with Curry and take a photo! Before the game, my father took Dai Yan to the barber shop and made Curry's iconic logo into his hairstyle. "Zhu Zheng first saw my hairstyle, and then told Curry that he was very happy and said to me 'Iloveyou'. "Dai Yan told reporters, "Curry's three-pointer is particularly accurate, and this logo is like his three-pointer. ”

Dai Yan was in the game.

One summer, the children seemed to have grown up and had new motivation. "I will practice hard when I go back! "Small team member Xu Mingxi said. "I will also work hard to learn English! "Zhou Xingchen said.

Seeing the growth of the children, coach Liu Gongcheng sighed: "They won the championship with their own efforts, so they had the opportunity to meet their idols. This kind of experience will become a valuable asset on their growth path. ”

Sports' "rewards" are not just champions

In Liu Gongcheng's view, the children's harvest this summer is far more than a champion and an opportunity to meet idols.

Xu Mingxi in the game.

"Basketball is not just basketball, but also an educational method. "In Liu Gongcheng's view, persistence in training allows them to learn self-discipline; the execution of team tactics allows them to understand cooperation and trust; the calmness when they are behind in scores allows them to develop a big heart, "The greatest wealth that sports brings to children is the spirit of persistence and never giving up. ”

Liu Gongcheng believes that through basketball, children can become real "warriors". "Some people are more confident, some dare to express their love, some learn to work hard for their goals, and they have grown up. This is the "reward" given to them by sports. ”

Kids and coaches.

As Curry wrote on social media at the end of his trip to Chongqing: "This is not a farewell, but the beginning of a new story. "For these 8-year-old children, at a certain stage in their future life, they will always think of this summer and face life with the same enthusiasm and hard work.