Guizhou’s Gold: Crossbow Champions at China’s Ethnic Games 🎯

Did you know that an ancient hunting tool is now an exciting sport? At the 12th National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities in China, the Guizhou Province team won the gold medal in the crossbow mixed team final! 🥇

The Crossbow Comeback

Crossbows have been used for centuries by the Miao and Yi ethnic groups in China, mainly for hunting. But today, they’re part of thrilling sporting events! Imagine a bow and arrow, but with a trigger like a rifle—that’s a crossbow! 🏹🔫

Meet Liu Xingyu

Liu Xingyu, a member of the Miao ethnic group and a three-time participant in the games, scored an amazing nine points on his last shot to secure the win for his team with a total of 191 points. Talk about hitting the bullseye! 🎯

Liu says, “We used to use the crossbow for hunting, but now we just use it for sports and fun.” He believes it’s super important to keep this ancient tradition alive through competitions like these.

Keeping Traditions Alive

These games aren’t just about winning medals—they’re about celebrating and sharing the rich cultures of China’s ethnic minorities. “Competing in this event promotes cultural and sporting exchanges among ethnic minority groups,” Liu explains. “I hope there are many more to come!”

More Wins for Guizhou

Just before Liu’s big win, his teammate Wang Renai won the traditional crossbow men’s standing position final. That’s two gold medals for Guizhou! 🥇🥇

Why It Matters

Sports like crossbow shooting help keep ancient traditions alive and allow people from different backgrounds to connect and learn from each other. Plus, it’s pretty cool to see how old tools can become modern sports!

Reference(s):

Guizhou win standard crossbow mixed team gold at National Ethnic Games

cgtn.com