Xi'an - Sports

Sports

Cuju is a very old football game:

It was improved during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). First of all, the feather-stuffed ball was replaced by an air-filled ball with a two-layered hull. Also, two different types of goalposts emerged: One was made by setting up posts with a net between them and the other consisted of just one goal post in the middle of the field. Chang'an was filled with cuju football fields, in the backyards of large mansions, and some were even established in the grounds of the palaces. The level of female cuju teams also improved. Records indicate that once a 17-year-old girl beat a team of army soldiers. Cuju football became popular amongst the scholars and intellectuals, and if a courtier lacked skill in the game, he could pardon himself by acting as a scorekeeper.

Professional sports teams in Xi'an include:

  • Chinese Pingpong Association Super League
    • Galaxy (银河)
  • Chinese Basketball Association
    • Shaanxi Dongsheng (东盛)

Former Professional sports teams in Xi'an:

  • Chinese Football Association Super League
    • Shaanxi Renhe Commercial Chanba F.C. (陕西人和商业浐灞)
      • Team moved to Guizhou for the 2012 Chinese Super League season.

Xi'an is also the Chinese Boxing training base for the national team.

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