Large tires, rusted stone locks, tin sheds, and a dirt field. In a village of Baoding City, Hebei Province, a free wrestling gym has become a cradle of dreams for local children.
Coach Bai Hejiang, 69, began practicing martial arts as a child and once trained with Hebei's professional wrestling team. In 2013, he invested over 100,000 yuan (13,840 U.S. dollars) of his savings to transform an abandoned factory into this gym, offering free training ever since.
In recent years, these young wrestlers have won over 200 medals in provincial and city-level competitions, with many rising to national elite status. Year after year, rural children step from this arena onto broader stages of life.
Produced by Xinhua Global Service
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