Academy balances education, sports

When Drolma Yangzom danced with a group of fellow Tibetan girls on a small playground in Yunnan province four years ago, she could barely speak Mandarin and knew nothing about tennis.

Now the 12-year-old speaks fluent English and practices tennis for two hours a day with foreign trainers, while taking tailor-made academic courses at state-of-the-art facilities in Beijing.

Thanks to the establishment of the New Champion Academy, more than 100 students like Drolma Yangzom have been able to develop their sporting talent without giving up their academic pursuits.