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Two football players chase the ball on a football field in Qidong, Jiangsu province. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

The 2021 "Yuantuojiao Cup" championship of the Qidong football association kicked off at Huilong Primary School Chengdong Branch in Qidong, Jiangsu province on Oct 23, with 22 amateur teams competing over two months.

The championship is important for public fitness across the city. It is co-hosted by the municipal education and sports bureau and the municipal sports federation and undertaken by Yuantuojiao Resort, the Qidong football association, and Huilong Primary School Chengdong Branch.

This year's competition will divide participating teams into four groups, and the top two teams in each group will advance to the final eight and compete for the championship this year.

In recent years, amateur football has gained popularity in Qidong. More than 500 people have registered for the championship, with the youngest aged 18 and the oldest aged 51. Participants include students, teachers, doctors, government office workers, and private company owners.