A ray of light on the Xinjiang super league field

Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Song Weiguo) news: On May 23, 2026, the 2026 "Tongxin Cup" Xinjiang Football Super League match between the home team Ili and the visiting Changji team kicked off with great excitement at Yining Sports Center. On the field, Changji team's No. 22 forward Kaysar Kasimjan became the most dazzling presence with his outstanding performance.

Even though he is missing his left arm, Kaysar is no less capable than able-bodied players. He breaks through defenses with sharp dribbling, delivers accurate passes, and runs tirelessly, repeatedly charging at the Ili team's defense. He is the core attacking force for the Changji team.

Changji team's No. 22 player Kaysar Kasimjan dribbles past a defender on May 23, 2026. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/ Song Weiguo)

During the match, No. 2 player of Ili team Yasenjan Samatjan went down with a cramp due to intense physical play. Kaysar immediately stopped the game, approached him, and stretched his opponent's leg to relieve the pain. This act went beyond winning or losing and warmed everyone's hearts, moving both the fans at the stadium and countless people online.

"I have played against him before. He has well-rounded skills. In this game, his dribbling was extremely strong, and he gave his all on defense. I am especially grateful that he helped me stretch on the field. It was truly heartwarming and touching. He is an opponent who deserves everyone's respect," Yasenjan said sincerely.

Kaysar, 21, was born in Artux City. At the age of one and a half, an accident caused him to permanently lose his left arm. As a young child, he watched his friends play football freely on the streets and felt envious and disappointed.

His father saw this and felt great concern for him. He bought him a soccer ball and encouraged him, saying, "If others can do it, you can do it too." With his family's support, Kaysar resolutely stepped onto the field.

Without a proper field, he used bricks to build goals on open ground. Without professional gear, he ran as hard as he could in regular soccer shoes. At first, his balance was poor, he fell easily, and he could not keep up with the pace, but he never gave up. He practiced hard day after day on that simple field. His sweat washed away his feelings of inferiority, and his love for the game lit his path forward.

In elementary school, Kaysar's talent for soccer was noticed by a coach, and he began formal training. Playing with one arm posed many challenges: he could not generate even force, his turns were unsteady, and he was at a disadvantage in physical contests. To make up for these weaknesses, he put in several times the effort. When others did a drill once, he did it ten times. While his teammates rested, he continued to work on his basic skills like dribbling, shooting, and turning. To overcome balance issues, he practiced sudden stops and changes of direction over and over, falling and getting back up until his movements became smooth. Every day after school, he added an hour of core strength and coordination training, and he never skipped weekends. In the evening twilight and under the blazing sun, you could always see him running alone on the field. With extraordinary persistence, his soccer skills improved quickly, and he became an essential starting forward for his team.

In August 2022, Kaysar was admitted to the arts and sports talent class at Shihezi No. 2 Middle School, where the training intensity increased significantly. He had two hours of professional training every day, including shooting, positioning, physical challenges, and tactical drills. The workload was heavy, but he never complained. Instead, he added extra work on his own: more shooting practice after training, strength training at night, and continuous efforts to improve his speed, power, and endurance.

Through his relentless hard work and dedication, Kaysar has achieved many successes. He helped his team win the high school division championship of the Shihezi City Middle School Football Tournament twice and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Youth Football Championship once. He was named the best shooter in the 2022 Corps’ football final. In 2024, he competed with his team in the national eight-a-side football finals and won second place.

Off the soccer field, he also continues to push his limits. At the 7th Xinjiang Paralympic Games in 2023, Kaysar won the gold medal in the F45-47 high jump, as well as a silver medal in the long jump and a bronze medal in the 100-meter sprint.

"I love soccer, so I will train even harder. I also hope that everyone who loves soccer can fight bravely and have no regrets," Kaysar said firmly after the match.

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