Kelsang Lhundrup, a cafe owner in Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in southwest China, is pursuing his dream of becoming an American football player.
LHASA, June 30 (Xinhua) — Just before 7 p.m. every Monday night, Kelsang Lhundrup closes up his coffee shop in Lhasa, capital of China's southwestern Tibet Autonomous Region, even though there are still about two hours before the summer sun sets.
As well as being a cafe owner, the 25-year-old is also an avid member of Tibet's only amateur American football team, and for the past two years has dedicated his Monday nights to American football practice.
The sport was both familiar and unknown to the young man. During his college years, Kelsang Lundrup discovered the sport through the movie “The Blind Side.” Michael Oher's story resonated with him and ignited a desire to play American football, even though he didn't have the opportunity to do so at the time.
“American football always seemed so cool and thrilling to me, but no one around me played it and there were hardly any games when I was at school,” Kelsang Lundrup recalls.
After graduating and returning home, he learned from a friend that there was an American football team in Lhasa. After observing a few practices, he had to join. Despite the makeshift training ground and tough conditions, the team's passion for the sport never faded.
In June 2023, Kelsang Lhundrup and his teammates traveled to Chengdu to compete in the China National Football League, one of China's top amateur leagues. In their debut match, they suffered a crushing defeat, 60-0. “In our first match, we realized the difference between us and the other teams. But our goal was to enjoy the game and learn from the more experienced teams,” Kelsang Lhundrup said.
Returning to Lhasa, the team used the loss as encouragement to intensify their training, and three months later, they returned to Chengdu again, this time to face the previous year's runners-up.
Kelsang Lhundrup and his team played solid defense to stave off the opponents' fierce attacks in the first half. Although the team lost again and Kelsang Lhundrup sustained a serious injury, the team knew they had made great progress.
“American football was not just a sport. It was a way for us to prove ourselves to the world,” Kelsang Lundrup revealed.
Currently, Tibet's only American football team has gradually grown, from the original seven members to 56.
During his recovery, his coffee shop became a haven for him, which he named “Huddle” after the American football game.
“I hope my coffee house will bring together young people in Lhasa who have dreams and passion for enjoying coffee and life,” he explained.
Now the Tibetan young man finds solace in coffee shops and relieves stress on the American football field. “It has changed me. I used to be quite introverted, but this sport has made me more courageous and outgoing,” Kelsang Lhundrup said.
Kelsang Lhundrup and his team are determined to achieve their first victory. “Our goal is to win the first match for the Tibetan American football team and spread the culture of American football among the younger generation here,” he said confidently. ■
