An invitational tournament featuring traditional minority sports got underway at Lingtang Minority Junior High School in Gaoyou, Jiangsu province on March 25.

The opening ceremony featured distinctive ethnic performances. Following the opening ceremony, some 16 teams competed in four major local traditional sports—Banxie, Yajia, Cuqiu and shooting crossbows—in addition to seven other minor sports.

Banxie is a sport in which athletes race with their shoes fastened to planks. Yajia is similar to a tug of war, but the rope is tied to athletes’ wrists while they face opposite the opposing side. Cuqiu involves the kicking of a stone ball with the sole of one’s feet, with points scored by hitting other competitors’ balls.

As host of the event, Lingtang Minority Junior High School’s team won first prize in all categories.

Locals perform at the invitational tournament for traditional minority sports in Gaoyou, Jiangsu province on March 25. [Photo/jsnews.com]