Badminton Legend Zhang Ning Brings ‘Village BA’ to Life: An Exclusive On-Site Interactive Coaching Experience
Renovated Basketball Court in Dongguan’s Dingwu Village Unveiled
As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches in 2024, Dongguan, known as the “City of Basketball,” has just weathered a typhoon. The cultural square in Dingwu Village, Dongkeng Town, has been cleared up after the rain, revealing a newly renovated basketball court that carries the memories and passion of Dingwu Village.
The first “Zhanma Basketball Village Charity Stadium” was successfully completed, witnessed by villagers, students, and representatives of “Village BA” players. The ceremony was attended by Gao Jianhua, director of Dongkeng Town Cultural Service Center of Dongguan City, Ding Xiaoyi, secretary of the Dingwu Village Party Committee, Huang Hua, executive vice general manager of Dongguan Branch of Reignwood Fast Moving Consumer Goods Group, Lin Zefeng, marketing director, and Zhang Ning, captain of the Chinese men’s three-person basketball team at the Paris Olympics.
Zhang Ning, who recently finished his Olympic journey, was invited to attend the stadium opening ceremony as a contracted athlete of Zhanma. He not only participated as a guest of honor but also transformed into a coach and lecturer, interacting with local grassroots players and students.
After the unveiling ceremony, the basketball teenagers from Dongguan Village BA played the first commemorative match with the players from Guizhou Mountain Village who came from afar. These players from Guizhou Mountain Area are representatives of young players selected through the War Horse Energy Support Program.
This was the first time in their lives that they had stepped out of the mountains and seen the colorful world of basketball outside. After hearing their stories, Zhang Ning took the initiative to offer to be their coach and patiently explained the techniques and tactics to the players.
In addition to the players of the two teams, hundreds of primary and secondary school students from Dingwu Village attended the event, all of whom were basketball enthusiasts. As an Olympic national player and CBA professional player, Zhang Ning gave these children a unique basketball open class and sincerely shared his own experience and insights on the road to basketball.