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President encourages elite-athlete students to lead the way

By Sun Xiaochen | China Daily | Updated: 2019-06-20 03:00
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Students of Beijing Sport University's champions' postgraduate program in class. [Photo by Sun Xiaochen/China Daily]

President Xi Jinping encouraged a group of elite student athletes to make greater contributions to China's goal of developing into a stronger sporting nation as he replied to a letter they sent to him.

Xi wrote to students of the 2016 class of Beijing Sport University's champions' postgraduate program on Tuesday to urge them to keep working hard to shoulder greater responsibility in the development of the country's sporting culture and athletic prowess.

"I'm glad to know that you cherish your opportunity to pursue further study while also training hard and promoting sports," Xi said in his reply to a letter written jointly by the students in April.

Xi said he had watched a number of their competitions and hailed the athletes for "fighting hard to achieve excellent results and win glory for our country at major international competitions."

"I hope you maintain your efforts, continue to build China into a leading sporting nation and bring more positive energy to Chinese society," Xi added.

Established in 2003, the champions' program is available only to world champion-caliber student athletes who have won Olympic gold medals or world championship titles and their coaches. It helps them advance their academic studies so they will be able to pursue a master's degree in athletic training theories.

The undergraduate program has enrolled 391 students, including the 24-member 2016 class, since its inception. It has helped them make up for gaps in their academic education with tailor-made online courses to boost their future career after retiring from athletic performances.

Short-track speedskater Wu Dajing, gold medalist in men's 500-meter event at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, hailed Xi's warm reply as a strong motivator.

"It's surprising and inspiring to receive his letter so quickly, having learned that he personally watches us and cares for us while running a country," Wu said on Wednesday.

"The president's attention on us is a high honor, and we will make every minute count in school and in training to pay back his encouragement and support," said Wu, who is working on his master's thesis during the break in the winter sports season.

Xi has made multiple visits to China's national Olympic training center and has called for the country to host a green, open-minded and corruption-free Winter Olympics in 2022. He also has expressed his hope that China will stage and win a soccer World Cup.

"We will continue investing all the best academic resources to improve the flexible program to make sure that our athletes are well trained, not just in body but in mind as well," said Cao Weidong, president of BSU.

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