Two teams from Beijing won the inaugural Chinese National Cricket
Championships on Monday.
The middle school attached to Beijing Institute of Technology
won the Under-15 division title with a total of 38 while Aidi
International Primary School came out tops in the Under-13 division
with 82.
The championships also feature an Under-19 competition which
will be contested from September to December by college teams
including Peking University and Tsinghua University.
Cui Weihong, an official from the China State Sports General
Administration, said that through nationwide promotion in 68
universities and schools since 2005, the sport is gaining ground in
the country.
"We will select some players from the championships and get
ready for the Cricket Asian Cup (U15) as soon as possible," Cui
added.
The Asian Cup (U15) kicks off in December in Thailand.
The sport, which prevails in the Commonwealth countries, was
almost unknown to Chinese before 2005 but has since seen progress
after 75 sports teachers became professional coaches and
referees.
(Xinhua News Agency July 18, 2006)
