The curtains are about to close on the 2025 Chengdu World Games on the Chinese mainland, but for Irish racquetball players Jonathon O’Keeney and Aisling Marie Hickey, the adventure lasted well beyond the courts. Joined by Sports Scene’s Mike Fox and Chengdu Media Group’s Zhang Chenmeng, the duo ventured into Chengdu’s famous Yulin Market.
Here, they discovered Bo Bo Ji (Sichuan Spicy Chicken), a local favorite served in a communal bowl studded with bamboo skewers. Each skewer held tender chicken, crunchy vegetables and black fungus, all immersed in a fiery Sichuan broth. “The heat hits you first, then the complex aromas linger,” said O’Keeney, savoring every bite.
Hickey, meanwhile, tracked down the perfect memento: a soft panda plushie she’d eyed since arriving. As she clutched her new souvenir, she laughed, “This is the sweetest win of my trip!”
From pulsating sports arenas to bustling street stalls, the pair’s Chengdu escapade highlights how global competition and local culture can create unforgettable experiences for young travelers and sports fans alike.
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Irish athletes snag panda souvenirs and spicy cuisine in Chengdu
cgtn.com
