By Amadou Jadama in China
Founded in September 2018, the Hubei Provincial Tennis School is the province’s first demonstration school jointly built by the Hubei Provincial Bureau of Sports and Jingshan Municipal People’s Government.
It combines a nine-year compulsory education with professional tennis training and serves as a partner institution of the Chinese Tennis Association for reserve talent cultivation.
The Tennis School is a boarder school. Either you chose to stay in the compus or you choose to go and stay at home.
Speaking to The Standard, Ritik Rana, a senior coach at the school, said both local and national authorities in China work together to build facilities for young athletes at the school.
When asked what African countries like The Gambia can learn from a centre like this, he replied: “Maybe the African countries can work together and create similar environment for tennis in their countries.”
Rana noted that with joint investment and support from governments, tennis and other sports can get better infrastructure, training, and opportunities for youth across the continent.
Sports exchanges between China and Africa have been growing in recent years, with training centres like Jingshan serving as examples of how policy and resources can develop talent.
Speaking earlier, Gao Bao, Executive Principal of Hubei Provincial Tennis School, and one of the school’s founders, described the facilities at the centre:
“The new campus is an investment of 240 million Yuanm and at full capacity; it can accommodate 1,080 students in 36 classes. The school also currently has 57 cultural teachers, 50 professional coaches, and 583 enrolled students. Thirty-five percent of our students come from other provinces and cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangsu.”
According to the Principal, the school has won 21 gold medals at international youth tournaments, 293 at national events, and 321 at provincial competitions.
“We also cultivated 1 Master-level athlete, 36 National First-Class athletes and 50 National Second-Class athletes. Nine students have joined the provincial professional team, and two have been selected for the national youth team,” he said.
He added that among the stars the school produced includes Olympic champions Zheng Qinwen who won first Hubei U10 girls’ singles gold medal right while at the centre,” Gao noted. He said Grand Slam champion Zheng Jie also serves as honorary principal.”
“The school follows six strengths: top-tier facilities, faculty, results, teaching, and support. “We visited Wimbledon in the UK before planning this campus to meet the standard of ‘China’s Best, World-Class,” Gao explained.
Academically, 80% of ninth-grade graduates enter Jingshan No.1 Provincial Model High School, and 89 alumni have been admitted to China’s prestigious 985 and 211 universities.
“Looking ahead, the school plans international exchanges, new tournaments, and building an international tennis town. This city marked the starting point of her journey to the Olympic stage. Hubei Provincial Tennis School will keep focusing on cultivating young tennis reserve talents and contribute more Jingshan strength to China’s tennis industry,” Gao concluded.