Some five teams made up of amateur soccer players competed at a soccer championship beginning in Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Sept 12, Baotou Daily reported on Sept 13.

The five-day championship involved ten matches watched by spectators. The participants were mostly teenagers, with an average age of 21.

Yao Zhiqiang, general manager of the Lucheng Soccer Club, said that the soccer championship is a traditional event in Inner Mongolia, with almost all the league cities and the neighboring cities having taken part in this event. The championship is an excellent platform for the players to exhibit their skills, learn from more experienced players and improve their playing standard.

This year, backed by the Inner Mongolia Football Association, the championship will be the qualifying match for the Chinese Football Association (CFA) Cup (Inner Mongolia autonomous region division). The winner of the championship will have the opportunity to play in the 2017 Chinese Football Association Cup qualifying matches on behalf of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Baotou, the largest industrial city of North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region, has spared no efforts to improve its sports industry and has hosted amateur soccer games for more than ten years. Baotou hopes to continue to be at the forefront of Chinese sports in the future.