In the heart of Chongqing's skyline, a new generation of athletes is rising at Coolda Baseball Club. Recently, teenagers from across the city have gathered on the diamond to train with intensity, play with heart, and chase their dreams.
CGTN Reporter Liu Mohan visited the club and spoke with two standout players and head coach Wang Jun about what fuels their passion. Li Wei, a 16-year-old infielder, highlights the sense of community built through teamwork. Zhang Xuan, a 17-year-old pitcher, embraces the sport's mental and physical demands.
For Wang Jun, the club's head coach, baseball goes beyond batting averages. He explains that integrating sports with education is a growing priority in the Chinese mainland. By balancing rigorous training sessions with classroom learning, young athletes develop resilience, leadership, and a lifelong love for healthy competition.
This approach mirrors national efforts to promote holistic youth development. Data from the past two years shows that enrollment in school-based sports programs in the Chinese mainland has grown by nearly 30 percent, reflecting a shift towards more active lifestyles among young people.
At Coolda Baseball Club, the diamond becomes more than a field of play. It's a classroom for character building, a stage for community bonding, and a launchpad for dreams in motion. As this new wave of players swings for home runs, they carry with them stories of passion, perseverance, and possibility.
Reference(s):
Swinging for dreams: Baseball and Chongqing's next generation
cgtn.com
