A team of student volleyball players from northeast China's Heilongjiang Province has defied expectations by reaching the semifinals at China's 15th National Games, setting a new provincial record despite training with limited resources while balancing academic studies.
The Heilongjiang men's U18 team secured their historic victory on Nov. 14, rallying from two sets down to defeat Henan 3-2 in a dramatic comeback that sent them to the final four.
Emotional players embraced their coach Bao Changlin after the match, many with tears in their eyes. Though they eventually finished fourth, missing the podium by one position, their achievement marked Heilongjiang's best-ever volleyball performance in the games' history.
What made their accomplishment particularly remarkable was their status as the tournament's only non-professional squad among the top eight teams.
Juggling both schoolwork and sport, the students trained with basic equipment and limited court time. When injuries kept players from full practice, some resorted to passing drills against walls to maintain their skills. Coach Bao repeatedly reminded them that there are no shortcuts in competitive sports, only hard work builds real strength.
"I told our team: We're from the northeast - we're like 'Northeast Tigers.' What is there to be afraid of? When you have nothing to lose, you play without fear. If we can win one point, we fight for one more. If we can take one game, we push for another. We train harder and play harder, just giving it everything we have," Bao said.
Bao, a former professional player, maintained his connection to volleyball after retiring in 1992, coaching students voluntarily while working at a bank. When the No.1 Middle School of Qiqihar invited him to establish a school team in 2005, he recognized how volleyball could transform lives.
In China's education system, outstanding sports achievements can significantly boost a student's chances of university admission through preferential policies for athletic talents, a pathway that has become crucial for many young aspiring athletes, in addition to the usual opportunities students have by pursuing their paths academically.
Bao sought out promising students like Liu Guolong and the Zhao twins, Zibo and Zichun, who came from rural families and faced uncertain futures. Bao promised to help them earn university placements through their athletic development.
"Coach Bao is very strict during training, and we all respect that. We believe a tough coach brings out the best in his players. But off the court, he's like a caring father, always looking out for us, paying attention to the small things in our daily lives. Looking back, if I hadn't joined this team, I'd probably be doing a job somewhere else now. But thanks to this platform, our team, I'm honored to have achieved something meaningful," said team captain Liu Guolong.
Bao spends each summer touring communities around Qiqihar, identifying potential players and explaining to their families how athletic achievement can lead to educational opportunities. The school supports this mission with flexible academic arrangements that help students succeed both in sports and in the classroom.
"Our team is truly a 'student team.' We encourage the players to treat volleyball as a specialty, not necessarily as a professional career path. Our approach is more about helping each student develop their unique strengths and use them to get into a better university," said Zhang Qizhong, Party chief of the school.
The program's impact extends beyond current players. Assistant coach Li Qinghua, whose own child earned university admission through sports recruitment after training with Bao, has remained with the team since 2015 out of gratitude and commitment to paying the opportunity forward.
"We do this work with a sense of gratitude. I want to contribute in my own way and take responsibility to help more kids use volleyball to walk a different path, to open the door to a better university and a brighter future," said Li.
"Our team may be amateur, from the coaches to the staff, but our commitment is nothing less than professional," Bao said.
Heilongjiang student volleyball team makes historic run at China's National Games
