Shaolin soccer becomes a reality in Henan province

A soccer training center for teenagers opened on Tuesday at a martial arts school in Dengfeng, Henan province.

The move brings to real life the Stephen Chow film Shaolin Soccer, a hit comedy about a group of monks from Shaolin Temple who form a dynamic football team.

Liu Haiqin, headmaster of the Shaolin Tagou Martial Arts School, one of the biggest kung fu schools in China, said it was good to promote the popularity of Chinese soccer, especially among youth.