Pearl ball shines at national ethnic minorities games

Pearl ball, once an ethnic sport in northeast China, is now drawing massive attention at the ongoing 12th National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province. This year, 36 men's and women's teams with over 500 participants registered for the pearl ball games.

Described as "mini-basketball with a moving hoop," pearl ball has unique rules. Players aim to score by throwing the ball into a handheld net carried by a teammate. Each match lasts 30 minutes, with two teams of seven competing.

The sport combines physical demands and entertainment value, offering participants an excellent workout while minimizing the risk of injury due to its soft, lightweight ball.