体坛英语新闻：Parental support guides teenage athletes at City Games

NANCHANG, China, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Liu Yuexing and his wife watched a close tennis match nervously with their sweaty foreheads clinging to the fence of the court, where their son Liu Wenbang battled hard agaisnt his opponent.

It was just a common tennis match at the ongoing Chinese City Games, but for the parents, it's like a final in a top-level tournament.

"Without my parents, I cannot achieve my goal of being a good tennis player," said Liu, an 18-year-old tennis player from north China's Tianjin.

Like Liu's parents, there is a group of special audience in the City Games. They watch the matches of these youngsters with enthusiasm, take photos or videos even more than the reporters on spot, and arrive at the stadium on time in spite of the heating sun or sudden rain. They are parents of these young players aged under 20.

In order to watch their son's competition, Liu and his wife took the train and arrived in Nanchang in the midnight on Oct. 16.

"We always accompany our son to the matches. I want him to know mom and dad are there for him," Liu said. "And watching him play is very important for us."

Compared to many competitions Liu Yuexin has watched, the weather of Nanchang these days is much better.

"Most tennis matches are held outside, so sometimes the weather is tough for the audience, but we have got used to it," said Liu.

"Most of the audience are parents. After all, the matches of this level is not attractive enough for tennis fans," Liu's wife added.

Liu also made a lot of friends in Nanchang, who are also parents of other young tennis players. "They are all here to support their children," Liu said.

"Many youngsters become professionals at an early age, so they need parental care from body to mind, and it also gives them confidence," Liu added.

The City Games, slated for Oct. 16-25, is seen as a seedbed for future Olympic champions.