CHONGQING, Dec. 9 – Football has become a life-changing opportunity for rural girls in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality. The girls at Sanhe Town Primary School, located deep in the mountains, have found a brighter future on the football pitches. Through their dedication and hard work, many of them have been admitted to universities across the country, such as Shanghai’s Donghua University and Beijing Sport University, based on their football talent.
The transformative journey began in 2013 when the school’s principal, Sun Xiaoming, noticed the need for better education and improved lives for students in the rural area. Facing a shortage of teachers and underperforming students, Sun, who was also a physical education teacher, came up with the idea of establishing a girls’ football team.
Initially, Sun faced the challenge of convincing the parents to accept the idea. To prove the feasibility of the project, he sent Ma Qinglin, a talented student, to another school for football training. After Ma received a scholarship to study at a renowned secondary school, hope was ignited among the girls and their parents.
In 2013, the girls’ football team was established with 20 students. They faced tough conditions, practicing with rubber footballs and enduring bruises from falling on the cement training ground. However, the girls persevered and never entertained the thought of giving up.
Over the last decade, almost 100 students have joined the girls’ football team at Sanhe primary school. Of those students, more than 70 have been admitted to schools in Chongqing’s urban areas. The team has also achieved remarkable success in football matches, winning the championship in the Chongqing campus football league in 2015 and earning numerous titles above the municipal level.
Qin Furong, a former member of the team, recently returned to the Sanhe school to volunteer as a football coach. Reflecting on her journey, Qin emphasized the importance of taking real steps towards one’s goals. The girls at the school have now been provided with better facilities, such as a grass-lined playground and proper footballs, to pursue their passion for the sport.
The success of the girls’ football team at Sanhe Town Primary School has not only encouraged young girls to chase their dreams but also challenged traditional gender norms in a society where football is predominantly seen as a sport for boys. The team’s achievements serve as a testament to the power of sports in transforming lives and providing opportunities for girls from rural areas.
The story of the rural girls chasing their goals on football pitches in China is not just a local narrative but one that resonates globally. It sheds light on the transformative power of sports and the determination of young girls to break barriers and achieve their dreams.
