URUMQI, May 17 (Xinhua) -- What was once a mundane meeting room is now adorned with several table tennis tables, and a dozen children diligently follow Yuan Jinsong's instructions, practicing forehand and backhand strokes.

Yuan teaches at the Tawat Township Central Primary School in Moyu County, Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang, China. Located on the edge of the Taklimakan Desert, the region experiences dry weather with minimal rainfall throughout the year, often shrouded in yellow sandstorms during spring and summer. Raised in Beijing, Yuan has rooted himself firmly in this environment.

In 2018, fresh out of university, he stumbled on an online recruitment notice from the Moyu County Education Bureau seeking teachers. Driven by a desire to challenge himself and contribute to education in the western regions, he bade farewell to his parents and embarked on a journey thousands of miles away, becoming a mathematics teacher.

"It took me a while to adapt to everything here. At night, lying in bed, I couldn't shake off the feeling of wanting to give up," Yuan recalled. "The teaching conditions were limited, and the students' academic performance was not good."

However, Yuan persevered through his initial struggles, determined to start from scratch. Every evening, he would provide extra lessons to his students. Over time, Yuan found his sense of purpose, and the students' exam scores began to improve significantly.

In 2020, the school encouraged the formation of extracurricular interest groups to further enrich students' lives outside of academia. With some spare time on his hands, Yuan immediately thought of table tennis.

Influenced by his mother, Yuan had begun table tennis training at the age of eight, participating in various youth competitions and obtaining a national second-level athlete certificate.

"I have a certain foundation, and I want to cultivate the students' interests through playing table tennis," he said, adding that practicing table tennis can broaden students' horizons and even change their lives by encouraging them to explore life beyond their hometown.

He faced challenges initially, as the school lacked equipment and space. Undeterred, he used his own salary to purchase table tennis tables, ball machines and paddles. After cleaning out a disused meeting room, Yuan began teaching the children from the basics of grip.

He was always rigorous and focused during math classes, not tolerating any distractions from the students. However, during training sessions, he adopted a different approach, using games to enliven the atmosphere.

"The enthusiasm for practicing among the children is high. Initially, it was just during their free time, but later, they started coming to me for extra practice every day after school," said Yuan.

Under Yuan's guidance, the team started to make strides.

In 2022, they participated in the Xinjiang Children's Table Tennis Championship. Despite financial constraints, Yuan accompanied the children on a long journey, and their debut performance secured them a commendable sixth place in the girls' team event. Last year, they clinched the runner-up spot in the Xinjiang Children's Table Tennis Invitational, with student Xayda Mumettohti claiming the girls' singles title for the first time.

As the bond between teacher and students deepened over time, what delighted Yuan even more than the competition results was the children's inner transformation.

"I used to be too timid to talk to teachers, feeling like an 'invisible' student in class," Xayda said, "After training with teacher Yuan, I've become more confident both in my studies and on the court."

With experience from eight previous tournaments, the children have had first-hand exposure to the outside world, and dreams have quietly taken root in their hearts. Xayda, who is now in sixth grade, is determined to pursue her table tennis dream while also considering attending a better middle school.

As the children aspire to reach higher stages, Yuan's commitment to his future goals becomes increasingly steadfast.

"Although my hometown Beijing is wonderful, this place needs me more," he said. "Since I've chosen this path, I will continue to persevere and support the children's dreams." Enditem

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