Adidas plays key role in national sports

Peng Weiguo, the retired Chinese soccer player, has attributed his career success to the professional training he received since the age of five.

"My dad sent me and my brother to learn how to play properly when we were really young," he said, recalling the gruelling yet exciting training sessions every morning during his primary school. "A good start is vital to success."

Nowadays, however, he says children with an interest in soccer can go very few places to play, let alone be coached as he was.