People relish a sporting chance to keep fit

Even at a young age, dozens of adolescent fencers show their dexterity while brandishing their swords at a downtown fencing club in Hefei, capital of East China's Anhui province.

Among them, 7-year-old Wu Zhangyi, the youngest participant, has received professional training for over a year at the club. "I hope to someday participate in the Olympics," the pupil says.

After four years of operation, the club now has more than 150 members, three national-level coaches, and five top athletes. Similar fencing clubs are available in almost all urban districts in the city.

A large number of professional competitive sports, such as fencing, ice hockey, figure skating, and archery, are gaining momentum across the country among sports enthusiasts ranging from minors to the elderly.

According to a 2021 national physical fitness plan for the 2021-25 period, 38.5 percent of the population will take part in physical exercise as a routine by 2025, driving the total size of the country's sports industry to 5 trillion yuan ($786 billion).

In July, China introduced new policies, known as "double reduction", to ease the burden of excessive homework and off-campus tutoring for young students, which further encourages physical fitness among younger people.

Zhang Xue, Zhangyi's coach, says fencing can strengthen the mind, adding that "during practice, pupils need to keep their eyes sharp, learn from experience, adapt to rules, study their opponents, and upgrade tactics to make progress".

Higher and more professional requirements are needed when compared with regular sports activities, Zhang says. Although professional equipment and systematic training are required to play competitive sports, more people are turning to practice sports like fencing, the coach adds.

According to official data, the total output of China's sports industry was nearly 3 trillion yuan in 2019, a rise of 10.9 percent over the previous year. By the end of 2020, China had more than 3.71 million sports venues, covering more than 3 billion square meters.

Jin Qiang, a former boxer, runs his own boxing gym in downtown Hefei. He is among a large number of sports enthusiasts seeking opportunities in the expanding market.

Since the opening of Jin's gym in 2019, hundreds of people have received training there.

"My students range from 5-year-olds to people in their 50s," Jin says. "It's a pleasure to see the sport make a difference to them and help my students become stronger, healthier, and more welcoming to challenges."