Sweat and tears behind cheerleading

Cheerleaders train in Shenyang, Liaoning province, Dec 21, 2014. [Photo/IC]

Cheerleaders are the attractive fixture on the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) court during the regular season. Some feel cheerleading squad members lead an envious life that is both vivid and engrossing. Plus, they are able to get closer to basketball stars than most ordinary spectators. However, the life of a cheerleader is hectic and hard. The people who envy their life don't see the other side; they don't see the life behind the curtain.

Sun Ying, a university student, has been part of a 20-member team for more than a year. Besides attending classes, she receives dance training every week with a bevy of good-looking cheerleaders in a gym in Shenyang, Liaoning province.

These energetic, beautiful, and talented girls need to work very hard, even sustain injuries, to entertain basketball fans with hot dance routines that last just few minutes during the break in the game. They endure all the hardships of the training because they love the game.