New soccer pitch inspires girls at Ningxia primary school

To celebrate the opening, Lou Jiahui, a member of the national team roster who played at the Hangzhou Asian Games, visited the school and taught a full workshop.

Lou was surprised by the optimism and energy of the girls. "The rose pattern in the center of the field is beautiful. It represents the spirit of the women's national football team," she said. "I hope it inspires more girls to love soccer and enjoy playing it."

The new stadium also marks a milestone for the Alipay Foundation's Wind-Chasing Program. "When Alipay announced its 10-year support plan for the women's national football team in 2019, we also launched the Wind-Chasing Program," said Zhao Shen'er, the program's lead. "For six years, we've connected national team players with girls in the mountains, helping them access resources and see more possibilities in life."

For the coach and the girls, the new stadium opens doors to a bigger world. "With such a good field, the children are more motivated to train," Ma said. "Now we can raise our level, hit the road for bigger tournaments, and let them see how far football and they can go."