Silk Road to link badminton lovers

Badminton lovers from countries alongside the Maritime Silk Road will meet at the starting point of the route to compete in their favorite sport.

The second "Mazu Cup" Maritime Silk Road International Badminton Challenge will kick off in Putian from Nov 23 to 25, when the coastal city of Southeast China's Fujian province will be in the spotlight amid national celebrations of the Belt and Road Initiative.

More than 1,500 players from 22 countries and regions along the maritime route are expected to participate in this year's competition, while the world's top 10 professional players will be invited to stage a show game and pair with amateur players.

As the birthplace of Mazu, Putian is aiming to build itself into a sport and culture exchange center for countries and regions sharing the Mazu culture.

Mazu is sea goddess, the deified form of the historical Lin Mo, a shaman who lived in the tenth century on Meizhou Island off the Putian coast. Revered after her death as a patron of seafarers, including fishermen and sailors, her worship spread throughout China's coastal regions and Chinese communities throughout Southeast Asia.

Putian is considered a land of badminton, and the home city of overseas Chinese sport elites. Indonesia's world badminton champion Liem Swie King, who comes from Putian, led the country to three Thomas Cup titles. Some overseas Chinese athletes also came back to Putian to establish badminton schools and promote the sport.