Pan Xingyu, a college physics teacher in Chongqing who fulfilled his long-held dream of becoming an international referee through 12 years of persistence, has inspired many. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
A college physics teacher in Chongqing who fulfilled his long-cherished dream of becoming an international referee through 12 years of persistence has inspired many.
At the 14th National Games held in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi province this month, a top-level comprehensive national sports event, 30-year-old Pan Xingyu is one of the two youngest triathlon referees.
But to everyone's surprise, Pan is a physics teacher at Chongqing Chemical Industry Vocational College. He is one of the no more than 50 people in the country, almost all sports majors, who have obtained the WT Level 1 Technical Official certification issued by the World Triathlon (Union).
Pan was born in Chongqing's Changshou district in 1990. As a child, the sports lover had a sports dream.
Pan Xingyu, a college physics teacher in Chongqing who fulfilled his long-held dream of becoming an international referee through 12 years of persistence, has inspired many. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
After entering college at 19, he applied for an audit course in basketball refereeing and insisted in traveling between his college's one campus to another for two years for extra study to become a basketball referee.
To catch up with his own major in machine design, he burned the midnight oil. Even so, he got up at 7 am everyday — practicing officiating gestures and doing physical training.
Three years later in 2012, Pan got his certification as a National Level 1 Basketball Referee.
In 2015, Pan was introduced to the triathlon in a game held in his hometown and became addicted to the sport. He had a bigger dream.
For nearly three years, he absorbed himself in learning to be a triathlon referee, English, and doing physical training, even harder than he did in college.
Pan Xingyu, a college physics teacher in Chongqing who fulfilled his long-held dream of becoming an international referee through 12 years of persistence, has inspired many. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
In May 2018, Pan received certification as a WT Level 1 Technical Official and became an international-level triathlon technical official.
"You should know the game inside out, from the rules, the officiating principle, the venue, to the athletes. And the most complex part is the venue setting," Pan said.
He said being exposed to multiple weather conditions in a long-distance game, it takes huge energy and strength. "But it is one of the best games ever!"
Over the years, Pan has served as a triathlon technical official at the 2nd National Youth Games, the 7th CISM Military World Games, multiple triathlon World Cups, Asia Cups and National Championships. He also has refereed in many city-level basketball games in Chongqing.
"Thanks to the inclusive sportsmanship for allowing a non-sports-major technical official like me to stand in the venue," Pan said.
"I'll stand on a higher stage one day, to give full play to my strength in serving sports events," he said.
Pan Xingyu, a college physics teacher in Chongqing who fulfilled his long-held dream of becoming an international referee through 12 years of persistence, has inspired many. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Pan Xingyu, a college physics teacher in Chongqing who fulfilled his long-held dream of becoming an international referee through 12 years of persistence, has inspired many. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Pan Xingyu and his daughter. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
