"Village Basketball Association" or "Village BA", is a grassroot basketball tournament held in Taipan Village, Taijiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province.
Organized by local residents, the sport has gained popularity over the years and draws a large crowd of spectators and participants alike.
In March 2023, Guizhou Province hosted the first edition of the local league game under the title "Beautiful Countryside". Consisting only amateurs, the competitions were held to celebrate the Miao ethnic harvest festival that falls on the sixth day of the sixth month of Chinese lunar calendar.
On Monday, the team of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture won the title by beating the team from Zunyi City 68-65, collecting fragrant rice, a local specialty, and a Miao silver hat handmade by an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage skills as their award, besides the trophy and medals. A day ago, the team of Tongren City beat the team from Bijie City 57-50 in the bronze medal game.
The finals attracted some 20,000 spectators. Some brought local bullfighting horns, gongs, drums, or even pans and washing bowls to cheer for the teams. The games showcased the passion and skills of basketball players from rural areas, as they compete and demonstrated their teamwork on the court.
(With input from Xinhua)