Fans of China's village sports craze poured into the small southern city of Hechi, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region as the 2025 Village Basketball Tournament kicked off on Saturday, giving locals a chance to show off their sporting skills as well as their vibrant cultural traditions.
Known as the "CunBA," or "Village Basketball Association," regional-level basketball games went viral in China in 2024 due to the players' pure passion for sports, and events remain popular today. A total of 38 teams from across the region have joined the over 50-day-long tournament, giving fans much to look forward to.
The opening match tipped off with the home team of Hechi, facing off against the visiting Yongmeng team from Guangxi's Nanning City. Each spectacular play sent the crowd into a frenzy, with cheers echoing through the stands.
"The game was really exciting, and I was completely caught up in the rhythm. Both teams have players I admire, and I love playing basketball myself. I hope to learn from them in the future," said Wei Chenyang, a teenage fan.
Welcoming spectators at the match's opening and again during intermission, locals put on diverse cultural performances of song and dance, ensuring an entertaining event from start to finish.
The merriment extended even beyond the arena. On the waters of the Huanjiang River, visitors were treated to a dazzling display of Iron Flower shows, a form of performance in which molten iron is flung into the air to create bursts of sparks. The art form is considered part of China's national intangible cultural heritage.
Village basketball tournament in China's Guangxi draws fans with athletic passion, cultural allure
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
