Xinhua News (Reporter Cao Yibo and Ma Kai): Amidst the booming of drums and clanging of gongs, the local villagers had already packed the basketball gymnasium, which could barely accommodate over a thousand people. Even the usually restless children were sitting neatly in the stands, staring wide-eyed at every detail on the court. The "Cun BA," or "Village BA" (stands for village basketball association), which has gone viral across the country and overseas, has blown its way to Yecheng County, situated in the southwest of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Bordered by the Taklimakan Desert to the north and the Karakoram Mountains and Kunlun Mountains to the south, Yecheng County had long been perceived as remote and mysterious, apart from its reputation as the starting point of the "Xinjiang-Xizang Highway." Today, however, this border county is using basketball as a key to open a new window for communication with faraway places.

The 2025 "Village BA" Xinjiang Division Invitational Tournament was held during the Qingming Festival holiday in Yecheng County. Six teams from east China's Jiangsu Province, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, southwest China's Guizhou Province, and other regions were invited.

Yecheng County's story with the "Village BA" began last summer when a basketball team of local men, comprised of township employees, PE teachers, and farmers, made its debut. They powered through the competition and clinched the championship title at the finals of the "Village BA" Basketball Invitational Tournament held in Taipan Township, Taijiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province.

Bahadir Eniwar was a member of the championship-winning team. After witnessing the vibrant basketball atmosphere in Guizhou Province, he, as a basketball coach, wanted to bring the passion of this event to his hometown, Yecheng County.

"Yecheng is a remote place. Although our children here love basketball, they have few opportunities to interact with the outside world. They yearn to experience different basketball cultures in person," Bahadir explained. The basketball training camp he founded in Yecheng County currently has over 100 children participating.

Bahadir's idea quickly received a positive response. By the end of last year, with the support of the government in Yecheng County, Bahadir's basketball club signed an official agreement with the "Village BA" event organizer, securing a one-year operational right for the Xinjiang Division.

When discussing the establishment of the "Village BA" division in Xinjiang, Li Qingdong, the head of the National "Village BA" Event Center, was filled with excitement: "'Village BA' gained popularity in Guizhou, but it belongs not only to Guizhou but to the entire nation. Our goal is to engage more people in this event."

When Li Qingdong led the Guizhou delegation to participate in the tournament in Yecheng County, the fervent atmosphere confirmed his judgment: basketball games, a beloved sporting event among the people, could traverse deserts and snow-capped mountains, naturally spreading happiness and joy.

"The matches were thrilling, and we enjoyed every moment!" said Lu Dezhen, a basketball enthusiast. This was the first time that teams from other provinces and cities had come to Yecheng County for a competition. "Half of our team members watched the games in person, while those who couldn't make it watched the live stream on their phones."

Lu Dezhen's team is an amateur one comprising over 30 basketball enthusiasts who usually arrange their games through a WeChat group for basketball lovers. "We just set a time and venue and post it in the group. Whoever's free can directly meet at the court," he explained. The team members come from diverse backgrounds - some work in offices, some are self-employed vendors, and others are farmers. "We've come together because of our shared love for basketball," he added.

The exchange window facilitated by basketball is a two-way street. The thrilling matches provided a visual feast for local villagers, while the visiting players from other teams were deeply impressed by the unwavering cheers and support from Yecheng's basketball fans.

"The atmosphere in Yecheng exceeded my expectations!" After the game, Shi Zhenxi, a player from the Shaanxi team, pushed his way through fans asking for photos and told the reporter, "People here are truly genuine. They not only cheer for the home team but also applaud just as loudly for the visiting team's goals."

For Shi Zhenxi, who visited Xinjiang for the first time, the development of this border county exceeded his expectations. During his free time between matches, he often used video calls to show his family and friends the sights of Yecheng County.

The invitational tournament concluded on April 7, with all participating teams returning home with a bounty of local specialties meticulously prepared by the organizer.

According to data provided by the National "Village BA" Event Center, an average of approximately 30,000 viewers tuned in to watch each match through the center's official live stream. This figure does not include the viewership data from the "Village BA" accounts in provinces such as Shaanxi, Jiangsu, Guizhou, and Xinjiang, as well as those from local media platforms.

"We never expected such a high level of enthusiasm," Bahadir remarked. "It was the support from the entire county that allowed us to organize and execute this tournament successfully."

His statement was not an exaggeration. To ensure the smooth running of the tournament, people from all walks of life in Yecheng County came together with a shared vision and collective effort. From venue facilities and live streaming to medical services, fire safety, security, and transportation, every aspect of the event was supported by relevant county departments. Additionally, the expenses for the visiting players' travel, accommodation, and meals were covered by sponsorships from local enterprises and individual businesses, ranging from tens of thousands to several thousand yuan.

Basketball has already become a proud calling card for the people of Yecheng. This year, the county also plans to host the National "Village BA" League and the "Village BA" Youth League. Facing events of a larger scale, Zhang Hailing, Secretary of the leading Party members group of the Culture, Sports, Radio, Television, and Tourism Bureau of Yecheng County, stated, "Although the tasks are heavier, we are full of confidence."

This confidence stems from the solid foundation Yecheng County has laid in public sports over the past decade or more. Since 2012, Yecheng has distributed over 300,000 free basketballs to teenagers across 26 townships, 317 administrative villages, and 52 communities. Additionally, the county has established a county-level sports federation and actively organized basketball training classes. Currently, there are 765 basketball courts throughout the county.

In 2024, Yecheng County organized 19 sports events at or above the county level and held approximately 100 village-level basketball tournaments. Zhang Hailing noted that Yecheng County has closely aligned with the public's aspirations for a better life, fueling widespread participation and enriching the cultural and sports lives of its residents through a diverse array of sports events.