Basketball bridges Lancang-Mekong countries

Players in the games (Photo by Wang Yunya/Yunnan Daily)

“Ball to Jonathan. He drives! He slams! What a phenomenal move by Jonathan!” “Here’s space for No.23. He drills two!” With exciting quips from the commentator, spectators at the courtside cheered out loud.

These are some of the highlights from the recently held 3X3 basketball finals in “Colorful Yunnan Basketball”-2023 Yunnan Province border Happiness Village Sports Carnival. Teams from China, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia competed in Yunnan province’s Hekou Yao autonomous county, near the China-Vietnam border. At the same time, the players experienced special Yunnan lifestyle.

Flourished by Lancang-Mekong river, people of the 6 countries enjoyed traditional deep friendship. This time, basketball bridges us even closer.

Netsai Wonguparaj in the interview (Photo by Wang Yunya/Yunnan Daily)

“We have always been waiting for a chance to play basketball with teams of China,” said Netsai Wonguparaj, chairman of 3X3 Basketball Association of Thailand. She is also the coach of the team, hoping basketball teams of other countries could come to Thailand to compete one day and enjoy sport atmosphere there.

82-year-old Nguyen Luu, leading the Vietnam’s team, was also a professional player of Vietnamese national team. He studied in China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in his boyhood, which gave him special affection to China.

Nguyen Luu in the interview (Photo by Wang Yunya/Yunnan Daily)

“China’s sports sector has a brand-new look and Chinese players and teams are among the world’s best. We hope to learn more in China,” said Nguyen Luu, who added that this basketball game also showed friendship between China and Vietnam.

Kyaw Kyaw Win, who leads the team of Myanmar, is also the vice chairman of the National Basketball Association of Myanmar. “With support from the Myanmar-China sports techniques cooperation project and almost a decade’s joint effort, Myanmar players play much better now in South and Southeast Asia,” said Kyaw Kyaw Win.

“This series of games is a great chance for Myanmar players to practice more,” added Kyaw Kyaw win. Captain of the team Chin Ta said that the young should also work hard to help deepen the cooperation and exchange in Lancang-Mekong countries.

“I’m happy to play basketball here after receiving the invitation,” said Cambodian player Vantha. He hoped the team could go further in the rest of the games.
Mak Chanphirun, who leads the Cambodian team, said that sports helped Lancang-Mekong countries deepen their cultural exchanges. This time, they want to learn more than just basketball but also Chinese culture out of strong interest.

Khankeo Duangeuane, coach of the Lao team, likes Yunnan very much. “This trip to Yunnan is joyful. I also love the food here,”said Khankeo. To him, sports ca,n help deepen Laos-China friendship.

Not only the players love the game and Yunnan, tourists here also “gave a like”. Miss Liu, a visitor from Guangdong province, came to Hekou to experience the exotic style and came across the basketball game.

“The exotic style here is great. I tried many Vietnamese food, like rice rolls and roasted pork rice noodles,” said Liu. “As a huge fan of basketball, I came across this game. So, I stayed to enjoy the trip and the games.” As the games are fabulous, she also said that if Yunnan got more games like this, she would definitely come again.

Source: Yunnan Daily; trans-editing by Wang Yunya