I can still have dreams at my age

Tang Jingyi, 47, player and team administrator

When I returned to the soccer field several years ago, I felt a long-lost happiness, as if I was back in my childhood. I fell down on the grass, got up and laughed heartily.

Falling in love with soccer again, I closed my beauty salon in 2018 and opened a soccer club that trains children and arranges games.

Training outdoors made my skin tanned, and I had my waist-length hair cut short for convenience. My friends from the beauty salon were surprised to see me, and some even said I was disfigured as I had dressed in very ladylike fashion before.

I spend a lot of time managing the club. After we won the championship (at the National Games) last year, things became busier and busier.

My husband doesn't understand why I have to work so hard. His career is good and the family doesn't need me to be the breadwinner. Really, he just wants me to be a housewife.

He isn't proud of me being a champion. He doesn't support me in playing soccer. He often quarrels with me and even threatens me with divorce. But I insist on doing things correctly. I can still have dreams after a certain age.

Life used to be very routine. After opening my eyes every morning, I performed the same routine over and over again. Playing soccer makes me feel alive. Now, there are many new challenges, and I face them positively.

I feel a greater sense of achievement from running the club. I see students go from not knowing how to play soccer to playing in a similar style to me. I can feel their love and admiration for me. I want to make things better so I can help them achieve their dreams.

Tang Jingyi spoke with Zhang Yi.