Xinjiang hosts young boxers from 27 Belt and Road countries

A group of young boxers from 27 countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative are training in Korla, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, ahead of the 2026 "Belt and Road" International Youth Boxing Gala and "Sports Lottery Cup" China Xinjiang International Boxing Invitational Tournament, which is set to run from Thursday to Sept 28.

Since Tuesday, the nine-day training camp has brought together some 600 competitors, with the training hall echoing the thud of fists striking punching bags, the shouts of coaches, and the squeak of shoes on the floor. Beside the ring, boxers waiting their turn jumped rope to warm up, eyes fixed on the footwork of those on the stage. In the shadow boxing area and inside the ring, training has been intense and orderly.