The 2026 National Beautiful and Healthy Village Basketball Tournament (Village BA) Guangdong Division officially kicked off on the evening of August 2 at the Yun'an District Sports and Culture Park in Yunfu City, Guangdong Province, drawing a lively crowd amid bright lights and cheers.
Twenty-three rural teams representing 21 cities across the province, with a total of 345 athletes, have gathered in Yun'an. Over the next eight days, they will compete in 62 intense matches, vying for a spot in the national tournament.
The opening ceremony began at 6:30 PM with a performance titled "Light of Fish and Dragon, Tea Fragrance," which seamlessly integrated local intangible cultural heritage elements. The show combined the vigorous and ancient Fish and Dragon dance, the colorful Flower Lantern dance, and the passionate Tea-Pounding dance, vividly showcasing the unique charm of traditional rural culture while echoing the dynamic energy of the sports event. This added a rustic yet vibrant cultural atmosphere to the Village BA stage.
Following the performance, the Yunfu Local Products Team took the stage, with performers carrying baskets filled with local specialties, including Yuncheng Qianfeng sweet potatoes, Yun'an Tuodong tofu skin, Luoding fish tofu, Xinxing preserved fruits, and Yunfu seedless yellow peel. This display highlighted the region's abundance and hospitality to visitors from all over.
The 23 rural teams and the referee group then entered the arena in order.
At 7:30 PM, the opening match began between the Yunfu Yun'an team and the Shenzhen Shenshan team, as the referee's whistle signaled the start. Both teams quickly found their rhythm, with players executing breakaways, fast breaks, and three-point shots in rapid succession. The Yunfu Yun'an team, playing on home turf, delivered an impressive performance fueled by the cheering crowd. The Shenzhen Shenshan team, however, was not to be outdone, relying on strong teamwork to keep the score close. The back-and-forth battle featured high-intensity offense and defense, with every exciting play sparking cheers from the crowd. In the end, Yunfu Yun'an secured an 81-69 victory over Shenzhen Shenshan, earning a strong start.
That evening, ten other group matches were held across various venues, with all teams making their debuts and delivering a thrilling rural basketball event for the audience.
During the tournament, a special agricultural products exhibition and food market opened alongside the matches, allowing spectators to taste local Yunfu delicacies. The market also featured "Guangdong-brand" specialty agricultural products from all 21 cities in the province, along with fun interactive games like "Win a Winter Melon by Shooting Hoops." This aimed to convert the crowd into orders, boosting the local specialty products economy.
Additionally, areas near the venue, such as Wanbian Village, have been transformed into nighttime consumption zones, unleashing the vitality of the night economy.
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