Victorious teams from Haimen took first and second place in the 2019 Jiangsu Children’s Gateball Competition on July 21, according to the Haimen Daily.

The two teams were from Haimen Economic Development District Primary School and Haimen Tongyuan Primary School.

A total of 28 primary school teams from across Jiangsu province -- consisting of more than 300 young athletes and coaches -- took part in the competition in Kunshan, Suzhou, in eastern Jiangsu province.

Gateball is a ball game played by two teams. The game was invented in France and was called croquet at the time.

In 1947, Suzuki Kazunobu changed some of the rules of the game and it became known as gateball. It has since become highly popular in Japan and can be played by anyone, regardless of age or gender.

Team members from Haimen Economic Development District Primary School raise their hands in victory in Kunshan, Suzhou, in eastern Jiangsu province, on July 21. [Photo/Haimen Daily]