Encouraging Girls to Net Profit

On Friday afternoon, at a remote school more than 70 kilometers from Horqin Right Wing Middle Banner in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, a thrilling girls’ basketball match began.

Playing on the brand new outdoor basketball court, a constant, sharp squeal filled the air as the girls’ tennis shoes scraped against the colorful court surface.

But what made this match extra special was the presence of former NBA star Robert Horry, who threw the ball high in the air early in the game while Chinese basketball legends Mengke Bateer and Zheng Haixia watched from the sidelines, coaching both teams.

The event, like the construction of the new court, is part of the recently launched Her Time to Play charitable initiative, which is run under the auspices of NBA Cares, the global social responsibility program of the National Basketball Association.

The initiative aims to support the holistic development of young female students from underdeveloped regions through a range of strategies, such as upgrading sports facilities in rural schools, basketball skills training programmes and organising basketball matches between local schools and communities.

From August 20 to 22, 41 physical education teachers from schools across Horqin Right Wing Middle Banner participated in professional basketball training led by NBA international youth development expert Bryan Gamroth. Training sessions included instruction in basic basketball skills, physical fitness and testing, sports psychology, and healthy nutrition.