Chinese President Xi Jinping has encouraged young hockey enthusiasts to remain dedicated to their passion for the sport on numerous occasions.

In 2018, President Xi and President Putin attended a China-Russia Friendship Match in Tianjin featuring young players. During the match, President Xi urged the young athletes to continue nurturing their love for the game. Seven years later, some of these players are now part of the Chinese national team. CGTN reporter sat down with Liu Zihao and Xu Lang to learn more about how the Chinese leader inspired them to pursue sporting glory.