Raising their game

Zhang Jinchun, the vice-principal of the elementary school, attended one of the trips with other representatives of the school's faculty.

During the trip, they visited Puma China's headquarters, elementary schools and the sports bureau in the city's Huangpu district to discuss and learn about the latest methods of designing sports classes.

He pointed out that the lack of professional sports teachers and adequate sports equipment is a pressing issue for the school's development of sports education.

"Every year, when Puma's volunteers come to our school, they share some good experiences in course design with us," he said.

"I gained a lot from the trip. After returning, I hope to share what I saw and heard with the students, inspiring them to aspire to explore the outside world, and thereby promote their enthusiasm for learning," said Zhang.

That enthusiasm is encapsulated by Li Mingzhu, a 10-year-old basketball enthusiast at the school. She displays agility and speed on the court, with accurate mid-range shooting and the courage to take crucial shots.

She is a devoted fan of NBA star Stephen Curry.

"I love the feeling of being trusted by my teammates on the court. Every time they pass the ball to me, I feel excited," she said.

To date, she has never left her hometown, but she is determined to study hard and play basketball well, hoping to be selected by Puma for its next trip to Shanghai.

xingwen@chinadaily.com.cn