LANZHOU, China, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Cheers rang across the grounds of a high school. A sound that had not been heard for quite some time. They were coming from a hockey field during a closely contested game between students.

Recently, more and more students have returned to schools, where classes are resuming in an orderly manner in China. As the coronavirus epidemic eases, Northwest China's young hockey players returned to their beloved hockey field.

These high school hockey players train at an 11-a-side hockey field at the Sports School of Jingyuan County in Northwest China's Gansu Province. One-by-one the players had their temperatures taken before being allowed to take to the field.

After a long, low whistle, the game began. "All defenders! Come back a little bit," 18-year-old goalkeeper Song Jianna shouted.

Song, a senior student at No. 4 High School of Jingyuan County, has returned to school and the playing field. Several weeks ago, Song and her teammates could not attend school, nor could they participate in training and competitions.

"Those days without hockey were very difficult," Song said, adding that she was happy to be a part of the team again.

Like Song, dozens of the students practicing at the 11-a-side hockey field built in 2018, are preparing for the college entrance examination.

Sun Jiangang, head coach of the hockey team at the Sports School of Jingyuan County, says that only after school and on weekends do team members have time for systematic training, and only during winter and summer vacations do they have the chance to travel for competitions.

In her protective goalkeeping gear that weighs over 5 kilograms, Song was soaked with sweat.

"During a game of hockey, the goalkeeper is the most important position, which can influence the outcome of the game," Song's coach Li Linlu said.

The team was built by Gao Xiang, vice-principal of the Sports School of Jingyuan county, in 2008.

"More than 20 players from the school have made the hockey team of Gansu province and the national young men's and women's hockey teams. And more than 200 hockey talents have been raised at our school," Gao said.

Sun and his colleagues have been looking for young talents in primary and middle schools in Jingyuan for years. And now, over 150 young talents are under their coaching.

Today, besides Jingyuan County, youth hockey is booming in places such as Lanzhou City, Jiayuguan City and other places in Gansu Province, .

"At present, the youth hockey players who participate in regular training span the age groups of primary school, junior high school and senior high school," Zhang Xiangyi, director of the Youth Sports Department of Gansu Provincial Sports Bureau, said. Enditem

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