Girls from Xinjiang dream of joining Chinese national football team

Football has been on the rise in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region for more than two decades. Some of the best local players – including Behram Abduweli, Imran Memet, and Hebibilla Nurhaji – have been recruited by Chinese national teams at various levels.

Meanwhile, a number of local girls are showing serious promise as well, and several of them talked to CGTN Sports Scene's Shen Xiang about their dreams of someday joining the senior national team.

After visiting Bachu County No. 3 Middle School and Jiashi County No. 4 Middle School in Kashgar Prefecture, Shen met under-15 players Munawar Aihemayti, Kadirya Sulayman, and Subinur Aziz. All three girls said they fell in love with football as young children, and hope to eventually join the national team to fight for the country at the sport's highest level.