Feature: From isolation to inspiration, a Monba elder's lifelong mission to champion Yajia

Despite his team's failure to secure a top prize in Yajia at China's 12th National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities, Padma Tsondre was filled with pride after seeing athletes from diverse ethnic groups embrace Yajia, a sport he has devoted his life to.

by sportswriters Cao Yibo and Huang Yaoman

SANYA, China, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Amid the electrifying cheers in the Yajia finals at China's 12th National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities, an elderly man sat quietly outside the gymnasium.

Padma Tsondre, a 67-year-old ethnic Monba from southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, gazed thoughtfully into the distance. His team didn't make it to the finals, but his pride in the growing popularity of the sport among China's ethnic groups was unmistakable.

BEATING THE ODDS: FROM ISOLATION TO CHOOSING SPORTS

Born in 1957 in Medog County, once known as an "island of isolation" in Xizang, Padma Tsondre grew up surrounded by the towering Himalayan ranges and the roaring Yarlung Zangbo River. With no roads connecting Medog to the outside world, the region remained cut off until 2013.

Despite the isolation, Padma Tsondre saw his life changed in the 1970s, as Xizang underwent significant transformations following its peaceful liberation in 1951 and the democratic reforms of 1959. Selected in 1973 to study in Lhasa, Xizang's capital city, he undertook a grueling ten-day journey on foot, battling leech-filled rainforests and snow-covered mountains to reach the city.

In Lhasa, he attended school for the first time, starting in grade one at the age of 15. Padma Tsondre excelled in sports, particularly basketball, and eventually joined Xizang's basketball team.

Despite being offered the chance to study at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Padma Tsondre made a bold choice to pursue a career in sports. "Choosing sports required courage back then," he said, recalling the stereotype that sports were "all brawn, no brains."

Padma Tsondre defied that stereotype. "Sports demand intelligence and strategy," he said. "It taught me valuable lessons that shaped my work, studies, and life."

His athletic talent opened doors, but Padma Tsondre's passion extended beyond basketball. He became determined to share Xizang's lesser-known traditions with a broader audience - a vision that would come to define his legacy.

THE BIRTH OF YAJIA AS A NATIONAL SPORT

Yajia, a traditional Tibetan sport often likened to "elephant tug-of-war," became Padma Tsondre's passion. In this sport, competitors crouch back-to-back, pulling against each other using a looped fabric strap secured around their necks. The simplicity of the setup, often improvised with scarves or belts, made Yajia a staple of Xizang villages, where locals played it in fields during their leisure time.

In 1986, Padma Tsondre joined China's 3rd National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities with his students competing in Yajia, which was then an exhibition event. Over the years, he worked tirelessly to formalize the sport's rules and adapt it for competitive play, balancing the preservation of its traditional roots with its growth as a national event.

By the sixth edition of the Games in 1999, Yajia had become an official competitive sport, with teams from across the country joining in.

Reflecting on those early years, Padma Tsondre emphasized the importance of cultural and professional growth. "Back then, Xizang's athletes not only had lower skill levels but also lacked cultural awareness," he said. To address this, he pursued further education, eventually earning a degree in sports science from Beijing Sport University in 1987.

His efforts coincided with a broader transformation of ethnic sports in China. Since the 2015 Games in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, Yajia has experienced explosive growth. "The rise in living standards and focus on fitness has made Yajia more appealing," Padma Tsondre explained. "It's a sport that's accessible and entertaining, which is why people are drawn to it."

"What started as a grassroots pastime is now a national sensation," Padma Tsondre added. "From just a few teams in Xizang, Sichuan and Xinjiang, Yajia now attracts athletes from nearly every province."

A SPORT THAT UNITES AND INSPIRES

This year, Xizang's team didn't secure a top prize, a setback that left Padma Tsondre visibly contemplative. Still, his passion for Yajia remains undiminished. "We may not have won, but seeing athletes from so many ethnic groups embrace Yajia fills me with pride," he said.

For Padma Tsondre, defeat is an opportunity for growth. "There was a time when other regions learned from us. Now it's our turn to study and improve. That's the beauty of sports - it keeps pushing you forward."

To him, Yajia is more than a game. It represents cultural resilience and the power of sports to unite people. "Ethnic sports foster understanding and unity," he said, marveling at the vibrancy of young athletes. "Many of them are university students - educated, energetic, and full of potential. Seeing them fills me with hope for the future."

As the 12th Games approached their conclusion, Padma Tsondre's quiet determination to advance Yajia and foster connections between diverse ethnic groups was as enduring as the sport itself.

"We'll return stronger," Padma Tsondre promised, his eyes reflecting the indomitable spirit of the plateau in his hometown. ■