Pushing the ball forward

Infinite, an amateur women's football team based in Beijing, organized an international women's football tournament in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on July 6. The event attracted 16 teams with players from over 12 countries. XIA HUIQING/FOR CHINA DAILY

A new initiative to promote women's participation in soccer gains ground in overcoming gender bias and the stereotyping of women who play the sport.

An unusual international women's soccer tournament, the Infinite Cup, kicked off in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on July 6.

Organized by Infinite, an amateur women's soccer team based in Beijing, the tournament attracted 16 teams with players from more than 12 countries. The participants are mostly passionate amateurs rather than professional players.

"This marks the first instance of a Chinese amateur soccer team organizing an international tournament abroad, whether for male or female players," said Xu Zhibin, coach of Infinite and organizer of the event.

Rising above obstacles

"Can women play soccer well?"

Nearly every female player in this tournament has faced this question on her journey to pursue soccer dreams.

Song Xuege, 28, works at an internet company in Beijing and plays for Infinite. Unlike boys, who often start playing soccer at a young age, Song's passion for the sport began during university, which she noticed is the case for many female soccer enthusiasts.

"I think it takes significant courage for women to start playing soccer as adults," she said. "It challenges gender stereotypes and becomes a journey of self-discovery."

Gao Huizi, aged 15 from Hubei province in Central China, has just completed her high school entrance exam. Although not a regular member of Infinite, she had the opportunity to join them as the youngest player for the tournament in Thailand, marking her first international soccer competition.

Unlike Song, Gao was fortunate enough to discover her passion for soccer in fourth grade at primary school.

However, as academic pressures increased in middle school, her teachers advised Gao to give up soccer to focus more on her studies. What kept her going was not just her love for the sport but also the unwavering support of her mother.

"Many people suggested that girls should stick to more 'feminine' hobbies like singing or dancing," said Liu Li, Gao's mother, recalling the pressure she faced when Gao picked soccer as her extracurricular activity. "But my girl shines on the soccer field, and I fully support her pursuit of what she loves."

Nang Seng Nwum, 28, from Myanmar, is a filmmaker. She started playing soccer at university in 2018. "At that time, only my friend and I had some knowledge of the game, as soccer for women wasn't popular in Myanmar," she recalled.

According to Seng, women in Myanmar also have to face pressure to engage in less active pursuits like sewing or crocheting, and societal stereotypes that question their abilities to play soccer well.

Now, she leads her own women's team, Hope FC, competing in the Infinite Cup.

Gender bias is just one of the initial challenges for girls passionate about soccer. Another significant barrier is limited access to training resources and quality match environments needed to foster their love for the sport.

During her university years in Beijing, Song observed that due to insufficient female players, coaches and training facilities were predominantly allocated to male teams. She had to join a team at another university in search of more female soccer enthusiasts.

Xu pointed out some modest improvements in resources for women's soccer. For example, cities like Beijing and Shanghai each have around 15 grassroots women's soccer teams, offering consistent venues and training opportunities. However, these resources are unevenly distributed across different regions in China.

Chai Mijia, 22, is currently pursuing her graduate degree in Shenzhen, Guangdong province in South China. She used to be a member of Infinite during her undergraduate years in Beijing.

Chai discovered that in Shenzhen, many women's soccer teams often compete against men. In these games, both male and female players find it difficult to fully engage: men may hold back or be too arrogant to play at their best, concerned about accidentally harming female opponents, while women's teams have to establish rules for self-protection purposes, such as limiting physical contact.

"If we can't compete with our own gender at full intensity, how can we improve?" Chai questioned. "Under these conditions, it's almost impossible to enhance our skills."

Catherine Garnett, 35 from the UK, is a member of Big Mango FC, an international amateur women's soccer team in Thailand participating in the Infinite Cup. She shared a similar experience, recalling how she began playing soccer when there were no local girls' or women's teams in her hometown. Instead, she joined the boys' soccer team at school, where she often found herself as the only girl.

"My kit was three sizes too big, and I was often not considered on equal terms to my teammates," she said. "However, a lot has changed. Women's soccer is starting to get the recognition it deserves and is growing more internationally, but there is still a long way to go."

Game changers

In Beijing, Infinite has taken a significant step forward. Xu, with over 10 years of experience in soccer coaching, has witnessed the struggles of female soccer enthusiasts. In late 2021, he founded Infinite, a team dedicated to grassroots women players.

The team currently consists of over 50 members, with an average age of 24 years old, offering training and matches tailored to their gender, along with reliable training facilities and a supportive environment.

Before joining Infinite, Song described soccer as filled with tension, conflicts, hostility, and occasional violence among players, teammates, coaches, and even referees. The strict elimination systems in many school teams also added significant pressure on her.

Infinite, however, offers a refreshing change. According to Song, Xu provides fair matches based on each game's performance, ensuring that every team plays an equal number of matches regardless of previous outcomes. This approach maximizes playing time for all participants, allowing them to enjoy the thrill of the game no matter the results.

"Infinite has changed my perspective on soccer and reignited my passion for the sport," Song said.

Currently, Infinite has organized more than 10 tournaments exclusively for women, not just in Beijing, but also in other cities like Shanghai and Weihai in Shandong province. The one held in Shenzhen featured teams from the Chinese mainland, as well as from Hong Kong and Macao.

Now, in Thailand, they have expanded beyond national boundaries to witness soccer's ability to bring together people from around the globe.

Xu explained that by organizing matches, he hopes to encourage Infinite's players to adopt an open mindset toward their teammates and opponents, allowing interactions among women players from different cultural backgrounds.

"On a broader scale, I aspire to use soccer to showcase the diversity of Chinese young women and promote greater support for women's participation in sports," he said.

Gao recalled a touching moment from the Infinite Cup when a teammate was knocked down during a game. "At that moment, an opponent had possession, but she immediately kicked the ball out of play and signaled for attention to the injured player," Gao said.

Nahatai Kaewpadcha, aged 30 from Thailand and another member of Big Mango FC, also recalled the incident. She was impressed by how players from different countries paused the game, using gestures and translations from Thai to English and then Chinese, to ensure the injured player received proper care.

"The happiness we get from the game, and the post-game celebrations enjoyed with fellow competitors, that's what truly matters," Kaewpadcha said."Our shared love for soccer transcends any borders or backgrounds. On the field, we all speak the universal language of the beautiful game — soccer."

Seng also found inspiration in the tournament. "I was so impressed seeing a female player score a stunning goal or make a crucial save," she said. "I hope this game can inspire countless girls to believe in their potential and strive for excellence in sports and beyond."

mengwenjie@i21st.cn