By Sportswriters Yao Youming and Sun Liangquan

TAIYUAN, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- A Beijing citizen named Jia Hong went to Taiyuan with her friends recently, renting a home stay and even cooking there.

But the 45-year-old's purpose was not to enjoy her holidays. Her daughter, Li Meitong, is taking a part in the ongoing under-18 women's basketball sports tournament at China's National Youth Games, representing the Beijing district of Haidian.

"My daughter is a student of the high school attached to Tsinghua University, and all the members of my cheering squad are the parents of the team's players. We feel a duty to cheer for our children, no matter where they play," Jia said.

Li Meitong was taller than her peers when she studied in a primary school, which is why Jia let Li play basketball six years ago.

"My daughter said that when I accompanied her during the training or competition, she felt comfortable and relieved. When she entered the team of her high school, our players' parents established a cheering team two years ago," Jia told Xinhua.

In order to cheer their daughter up in the competitions, the team has traveled to Jilin, Heilongjiang, and Shandong in addition to Shanxi over the course of the past year. "Li's high school won the northern championship of the National high school basketball league in Changchun, plus a national title in Harbin in February. And the team has played many games on home soil. "

"We witnessed almost every match from the bleachers," Jia said.

Following the Fuzhou edition of the event in 2015, the Chinese Youth Games organizer has adjusted the basketball event rules. They divided the games into two categories: school teams and professional clubs, to promote the sport among teenagers.

"I am very excited when I knew my daughter's school team could represent the Beijing Haidian sports school in the Youth Games. The reform of the Chinese basketball competition system benefited not only us, but als teenagers all over the country," Jia said.

The cheering squad boasts a strong organization and careful division of duties. There are cooks, tickets buyers, home stay managers and cheering clothes designers in their ranks. 20 of 43 members in the squad came to Taiyuan.

"We used to always send along homemade dishes to our children during the competitions, but it is different this time. The Youth Games Village is operated very well, and our dishes are totally forbidden. But my daughter told me that they were served very healthy and delicious food," Jia said.

Jia and her group mates have about 10 minutes of face-to-face time with their children each day, as Li's team departs the gymnasium for the Youth Games Village.

These most loyal fans of Beijing Haidian wait outside under blistering heat after each match, because the team must still stretch afterward. "Our kids have to watch their rivals games sometimes, so we always have to stand outside for 60 or more minutes, but no one complains about it," Jia said.

When they meet the players, the parents always ask if their children had suffered any injuries during the game.

"As long as our children try their best, the result of the competitions is not the most important thing. I often suggest to Li Meitong to have a good night sleep, because they have games scheduled every day from August 11-17," Jia said.

Although Li's team suffered two consecutive defeats in the group stage, it it now second in its group and has made it into the semifinals. Li told Xinhua that her goal is reaching the podium at the Youth Games.

The 17-year-old Li will take a part in Chinese university entrance exam in next summer. Jia says she'd like her daughter to choose her future by herself.

"Whether she wants to be a professional player or not, it is her own choice," Jia said.

"I know that sports help [the kids] live happier lives, and that's enough," Jia concluded. Enditem

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