In an impressive showcase of progress, the innovative sports-education integration model of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture in Central China's Hunan province has garnered significant media attention, according to Hunan Daily on June 9.

Over the years, Xiangxi has promoted the collaborative development of education and sports, establishing a distinct ecosystem for their integration.

This approach has yielded remarkable results, producing Olympic champions such as Yang Xia, Long Qingquan, and Xiang Yanmei, alongside numerous world champions like Long Jinbao, Zhang Liang, and Xiang Linxiang.

The region boasts an impressive tally of four Olympic gold medals, 71 gold medals at international events, and 168 gold medals at national sports competitions. Additionally, Xiangxi hosted the 13th National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities. The prefecture's schools reported a physical fitness pass rate of over 98 percent in 2023, with notable decreases in myopia and obesity rates of 3.8 percent and 8.7 percent, respectively.

In an interview with Hunan Daily, Gao Xiangwen, vice-governor of the prefecture, emphasized the importance of physical exercise for improving students' health, noting that all schools have implemented daily physical education and large-scale recess sports events.  

The entire prefecture is accelerating the promotion of the "three major ball games" (basketball, football, and volleyball) and Xiangxi's intangible cultural heritage sports in schools, encouraging more students to develop a love for, participate in, and enjoy sports, Gao said.

Each county in Xiangxi has developed sports suited to local conditions, such as weightlifting in Guzhang and rock climbing in Jishou.

At the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships held in Dubai, Shi Kangjun, an athlete from Xiangxi, claims gold in the men's 100‑meter final. [Photo/WeChat account: xxjtzc]

Xiangxi's athletes have achieved significant success, with Zhang Liang and Long Jinbao winning China's first Asian Games gold medal in rock climbing in 2023, and Shi securing the gold medal at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships.

The prefecture's sports development has been extraordinary, with nearly 200 high-level athletes emerging in recent years.

Through measures such as adjusting exam criteria and enhancing the value of the sports curriculum, Xiangxi has broadened pathways for student success. Over 600 sports students have been admitted to prestigious universities like Qinghua University and Beijing Sport University, inspiring more young people to pursue excellence in sports.