STORY: Vibrant Plateau: Tibetan girl's love for football
SHOOTING TIME: Earlier footage
DATELINE: June 28, 2024
LENGTH: 00:07:13
LOCATION: LHASA, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY/SPORTS

STORYLINE:

Padma Chokyi, a Tibetan girl studying in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province, returns to Lhasa as soon as the summer vacation begins.

For her, she lives and breathes in summer for football games.

This summer, Padma Chokyi is gearing up to participate in a women's amateur football tournament.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): PADMA CHOKYI, Captain of Team B
"Quick steps, go. Quick steps, go."

Voice on site:
"One, two."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Tibetan): PADMA CHOKYI, Captain of Team B
"Let's get united on the field. Enjoy the game and play within the rules."
"Team B."

Voice of players:
"Go, go, go!"

Chokyi is the captain of Team B, a women's amateur football team based in Lhasa. After a period of exercise, the team members are confident in competing for the championship.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): PADMA CHOKYI, Captain of Team B
"I'm not in a good state today. I'm slow in reacting. When I touched the ball, even though I could easily pass it, I messed up. I need to keep my mind clear. I watch how others play, and then think more clearly."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Tibetan): PADMA CHOKYI, Captain of Team B
"Run to the front of the goal."

Players on this field come from all walks of life. Playing football on the plateau, they have to endure the lack of oxygen. For Chokyi, it's quite a different experience from playing football at her university in Hangzhou.

SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): DROLMA, Player of Chokyi's rival team
"Keep in mind that we can defend. Even if you fail, it doesn't matter, because we are a family. Right? Never be afraid!"

Voice of Padma Chokyi: 
"She is Drolma from Yushu, northwest China's Qinghai Province. Among all my opponents, she is the most tenacious."

Voice on site:
"Give her a hand."

SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): DROLMA, Player of Chokyi's rival team
"Shoot!"

Voice on site:
"Nice shot."

SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): DROLMA, Player of Chokyi's rival team
"We lost the first game. You win some, you lose some. So we'll definitely make a comeback in today's game. I'm honored to be part of my team, and we won the game today. That makes me feel great."

Voice of Padma Chokyi:
"This is an arena full of competition, with pains, tears, and also laughter. All of us go all out to win. Compared to men's teams, there are few games like this for us."

SOUNDBITE 8 (Tibetan): PADMA CHOKYI, Captain of Team B
"In football games, most people pay more attention to the forward than players in other positions. I used to enjoy the moment as a forward when people applaud for goals. But now, I think differently as I play defender. Our goalkeeper once told me, 'With you in front of me, captain, I feel particularly assured.' So I feel like I have found myself."

SOUNDBITE 9 (Chinese): PADMA CHOKYI, Captain of Team B
"We don't want any defeat. Today, we must win!"

On the final day of the tournament, every team is eager to strive for victory. Padma's team is determined to defend its title as champion.

Voice on site:
"Go, Team B! Go, go, go."

SOUNDBITE 10 (Chinese): PADMA CHOKYI, Captain of Team B
"Move faster in defense position."

In the final match of the tournament, Padma's team lost by one goal. The perfect ending she had wished for didn't come true. Fortunately, they still managed to clinch the championship due to their goal difference advantage. 
During the five-day tournament, every team experienced the joy of victory and the bitterness of defeat. 

SOUNDBITE 11 (Chinese): TASHI DARTSOG, Football enthusiast
"I'm a fan of Neymar and Wang Shuang, from whom I developed an interest in football."

SOUNDBITE 12 (Chinese): TENZIN PEDRON, Football enthusiast
"I think the women football players are really cool when they play on the field, which triggered my interest in football."

SOUNDBITE 13 (Chinese): TENZIN DROLKAR, Football enthusiast
"I felt stressed when I was in the final year of primary school. While watching boys play football on the field, I found this sport is good for relieving stress."

SOUNDBITE 14 (Chinese): DROLMA TSEJI, Football enthusiast
"I dream of attending the national games on behalf of Xizang. We will strive for it."

Voice on site:
"Go, go, go."

Voice of coach:
"Good play, good play."

Padma's summer comes to an end as the tournament draws the curtain. She is about to leave Xizang and return to Hangzhou to continue her studies.

SOUNDBITE 15 (Tibetan): TASHI CHODRON, Mother of Padma Chokyi 
"When the departure time is approaching, I will feel sad as I don't want her to leave."

SOUNDBITE 16 (Chinese): PADMA CHOKYI, Captain of Team B
"Although we often argue when I'm at home, she'll feel lonely after I leave. She hopes that I can persevere in pursuing my dream and embrace the future with courage."

SOUNDBITE 17 (Chinese): PADMA CHOKYI, Captain of Team B
"Hi, everyone. I'm back at my university, standing in front of the gate of Zhejiang International Studies University.
I'm now in my dormitory. Here's my clothes rack, and on top of it are some of my jerseys. We have a training session at 4:30 p.m. I'll change my clothes. Then follow me to explore our training.
If I can further improve my skills, I hope to become the person who can lead the development of women's football in Xizang."

This is the best era. The vibrant plateau embraces everyone who pursues dreams for the future.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Lhasa, China.
(XHTV)