Fiercer competition

As the sports have grown in popularity nationwide over the years, competition at the ethnic games has become more fierce.

At a high school stadium in Sanya where the wrestling event was held, people cheered for competitors from different ethnic groups in their own languages such as Uygur, Kazak, Tibetan and Mongolian. The event included six styles of wrestling: Tibetan, Uygur, Yi, Mongolian, Hui and Korean.

Kaharman Dawut, head coach of the wrestling team from Xinjiang, closely watched his charge in the group stage of the competition.

Yasar Tiliwaldi from the Uygur ethnic group took on an athlete from Yunnan province in the 74-kilogram weight division of the men's Uygur-style event.

Although Yasar won, Kaharman said the wrestler's opponent had given him a tough time. "Winning the Uygur-style wrestling category was tough for the team, even though the sport originated in Xinjiang," the coach said.

Kaharman said he competed in the event at the third and fourth national traditional games and won easily. Now, there are many tough opponents from other provinces and regions as more wrestlers take part in the sport nationwide, he said.

"But it's a good thing, because it means the event has been further promoted, especially among young people," the coach said. "Our athletes performed well in the Tibetan-style wrestling category. I think that's the charm of the games."

Yasar from Ily Kazak autonomous prefecture has been wrestling since he was 9 years old. He said the games offer a unique opportunity for wrestlers from different ethnic groups to meet and learn from each other.

"I've trained with wrestlers from the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Xizang autonomous region who are very strong. We shared our wrestling tips on different styles and became friends," Yasar said in the training area, as wrestlers busily prepared for different events.

"I am glad to see people from other ethnic groups doing so well in Uygur-style wrestling. In fact, I don't think they need my tips," said Yasar, who won the 74 kg final.

Li Junyi, chief judge of the ethnic aerobics competition, said participation of 32 teams from across the country illustrated the growing diversity of the games.

Although the routines last only a few minutes, they integrate elements from more than 20 ethnic groups' dances, including Tibetan, Uygur, Mongolian, and Dai.

"Each participant, regardless of their ethnicity, learns and performs movements that come from other traditions, deepening their appreciation for diverse cultures. This is the beauty of harmony and integration," Li said.

Adil Uxur, nicknamed the "Prince of the Tightrope," and his team from Xinjiang provided a spectacular aerial visual feast when they demonstrated Dawaz — acrobatic Uygur tightrope walking.

The 54-year-old has taken part in 11 games and witnessed how the games have grown in scale and the number of participants.

"I performed at the second games with my father when I was just 11. It was nerve-racking then. And I feel exactly the same now," he said after his performance on a tightrope 21-meters high and 80-meters long.

In the past, there weren't many channels to promote ethnic sports. Without the games, people from different ethnic groups and areas don't have many opportunities to learn about each other's life and culture, Adil said.

"Now the number of sports and participants at the games have both grown significantly, which is beyond my imagination. I'm so happy to see so many young people who are proud of their cultural heritage and determined to make them thrive," he added.