Li Qiuping: We have gained experience and confidence. "Tomorrow's Star" builds a dream chasing stage for basketball youth. Basketball | Shanghai | Stage

This is the first time since the renovation of the Shanghai Sports Center that it has hosted an international youth sports event, witnessing the dream chasing journey of a group of basketball youths.

5 days, 6 teams, 11 games, the basketball star of tomorrow with dreams sets off from here.

On August 12th, 2023, the Shanghai Tomorrow Star Basketball Championship came to an end at the Shanghai Sports Center. In the exciting championship battle, the Shanghai Sharks Elite team, who played at home, defeated Japan's Fukuoka Oho team 77-70 and won the championship trophy of the first tournament.

"Many of our children are participating in such international exchanges for the first time. They both want to win championships and are very nervous, and inevitably make many mistakes." Li Qiuping, the head coach of the Shanghai Sharks Elite Team, said, "Through this competition, we have created a good opportunity for our team to exchange and learn. I hope they can accumulate more competition experience through the competition, and in the future, participating in such competitions, including national competitions, we can make fewer mistakes and have more confidence."

Chinese and foreign teams compete on the same stage, experiencing the atmosphere of international competitions

Focusing on global exchange is a major feature of the Shanghai Tomorrow Star Basketball Championship. This year's event attracted six high-level youth teams from Serbia, Japan, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong and the host Shanghai, China.

After intense competition in the first four days, Fukuoka University Affiliated Dahao High School and the Shanghai Sharks Elite Team teamed up to stage the final. Fukuoka Dahao battled the Hong Kong Oriental Youth Team until extra time in the semi-finals. The Japanese team, who had been tied for survival during regular time, ultimately won 94-93 in extra time, narrowly reaching the pinnacle of the match. The Shanghai Sharks Elite Team, on the other hand, successfully secured a ticket to the semi-finals by defeating the Serbian Vyzola Basketball Academy team 94-82.

The championship battle was full of ups and downs, with the Shanghai Sharks Elite team, who had a leading start, falling into a difficult situation in the middle of the game. They frequently made proactive mistakes and had unsatisfactory attacking efficiency, falling behind their opponents by 13 points at one point. In adversity, head coach Li Qiuping and head coach Peng Fei encouraged the players to regain their confidence and led the team to complete a comeback in the last quarter. In the end, they won the game 77-70 and won the championship trophy. The Fukuoka Daiho team from Japan won the runner up, while the Hong Kong Oriental Youth team ranked third.

Zhang Jiahao, a member of the Shanghai Elite Team who scored 17 points in the championship competition, was awarded the MVP. He said, "The Japanese team's counterattack, fast attack, and three pointers have taught us a lesson in defense. International competitions have allowed me to experience a different basketball atmosphere and playing style, where everyone can promote each other and improve together in competition."

Wan Menglin, from the impressive Shanghai Sharks elite team, also mentioned that he has benefited greatly from playing against high-level domestic and foreign teams. "Each team has a different style of play, and by adapting to various styles of play in the game, we can handle any game well in the future."

Expanding the Cultural Connotation of Sports Events and Promoting Sports Culture Exchange

Sports events, as one of the core elements of Shanghai's construction as a globally renowned sports city, have always been an important carrier of Shanghai's sports exchanges with the outside world. The Shanghai Tomorrow Star Basketball Championship is no exception. In addition to exciting competitions between teams with different styles on the field, cultural exchange activities around the event are also exciting and diverse.

Before the start of the competition, an event called "Cute Planet Youth Basketball Culture Exchange" was first held at GF Jinqiao Arena. Basketball youths from the Hong Kong Oriental Youth Team entered the Shencheng community and made friends with GF Club members, leaving behind many beautiful memories. On the other hand, the Hsinchu Recovery Team from Taiwan, China of China also held a friendly match with the team of Shanghai Nanmo High School. In the name of sports, it promoted the communication and exchange of youth across the Straits in just one hour.

As a key independent brand event built by Shencheng, the Tomorrow Star Basketball Championship not only provides players with a high-level platform, but also opens up a new window for young coaches at all levels to learn advanced youth training concepts and innovate talent cultivation methods. On August 11th, the organizing committee invited experts from the Vizula Basketball Academy in Serbia to conduct an open training class, and Shanghai youth basketball coaches observed and studied on site.

In addition, the competition actively played the role of a "city living room", organizing a series of sightseeing activities for participating teams from afar, from night tours of the Huangpu River to reaching the summit of Shanghai. This not only integrates Shanghai style culture, international perspective, and basketball elements, further expanding the "sports circle" of Shanghai, but also quietly expanding the cultural connotation of the competition, showcasing Shanghai's development through the competition, stimulating urban vitality with sportsmanship, and showcasing Shanghai's urban image to the world.

"We have participated in many similar competitions in Europe before, but this time it can be said to be the best experience." Leader Sivicovic from the Vyzola Basketball Academy in Serbia sighed, "From event support to reception service, everything was excellent. The host treated us like family members. We can not only improve ourselves through competitions here, but also enjoy the city scenery, learn about Chinese culture, and meet new friends. I think playing basketball here is a wonderful thing, and this is also the meaning of basketball and this game."

Carefully building independent brands and expanding the map of Shanghai's sports events

Shanghai has always adhered to a global perspective and benchmarking against international standards, actively building local characteristic sports event brands on the basis of fully exploring Shanghai's sports elements. The "Tomorrow's Star" series, as another independent brand event that Shanghai focuses on building, also continues this concept.

During the five-day competition period, the host country fully utilized their experience in organizing matches, made every effort to do a good job in organizing various events, and provided international standards and professional services to safeguard the events, allowing young players to feel the sense of ceremony and honor of world-class basketball events.

In order to meet the needs of this high-level youth event, the organizers have arranged for all competitions to be held at the newly renovated Shanghai Sports Center. This is also the first official event of this "star venue" that has witnessed the changes of the times and the countless glories of Chinese sports after its return from renovation.

Cao Jian, Secretary General of the Organizing Committee of the tournament, said, "As an international event, the fundamental mission of the Shanghai Tomorrow Star Basketball Championship is to replace practice with matches, promote practice with matches, and help the continuous emergence of top basketball talents in Shanghai. By playing a leading role in the event, creating a positive and upward sports atmosphere, and conveying sports concepts to a wider range of young basketball enthusiasts."“

Teenagers are the foundation of the development of Chinese basketball. The Shanghai Tomorrow Star Basketball Championship is not only a youth sports feast belonging to Shanghai, but also a bridge from Shanghai to the world.

On the field, the organizers pave the way for young people with "high positioning, high standards, and high standards", helping basketball "tomorrow's stars" from all over the world embark on their dream journey. Outside the arena, the host country is also building its own branded sports events, enriching the Shanghai style sports culture, consolidating the basketball soil of Shanghai, and adding new momentum to Shanghai's construction as a globally renowned sports city.