It was a warm day at the beginning and a warm breeze at the end. From 14 to 15 April, the 2023 Sunshine Sports Meet of Zhengzhou University was successfully held in the Hongyuan Stadium of the new campus.

At 8:30am on 14 April, accompanied by the infectious "Athletes' March", Wu Hongyang, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the University, solemnly announced the official opening of the Zhengzhou University 2023 Sunshine Sports Meet, with academician Li Peng, President of the University, Wu Hongyang, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the University and other leaders of the University, guests, teachers and students from various faculties attending the opening ceremony. The National Flag Guard was the first to enter with a neat and tidy pace. The guard of honour of each faculty followed in an orderly manner, reflecting the characteristics of each faculty and showing the vigour and youthfulness of Zheng University students. Our faculty members waved their national flags, followed by students in red skirts and white shirts, showing their vigorous spirit. The aerial drones, journalist interview simulations and the People's Daily "Retracing Mu Qing Road" poster display were all on display, reflecting the belief of the new missionaries in using science and technology to gain insight into the world, expand their horizons and write the chapters of the times; their rigorous attitude in measuring the land with their feet, seeking truth from facts and analyzing reality; and their constant commitment to "not forgetting the people" as their mission and insisting on serving the people. "The students were also able to interpret the colours of their youth with their actions. In the audience, the students cheered and cheered, all the smiling faces of youth where they could see; there was a sea of joy as far as the eye could see.

After the opening ceremony, the competition officially started. On the track, our athletes were ready and raring to go, and on the 100m, 200m and 400m courses, as the gun went off, they fought like arrows without fear or retreat, letting their backs be wet with sweat and their bodies covered with fatigue. The relay race was even more colourful, as the little baton passed on its power. The women's 4 x 100m relay team held the baton tightly and took the lead, gradually increasing the distance with tacit cooperation, handing over the baton and receiving it in one go, finally achieving the first place with a huge advantage. In the field events, the athletes did not give in to defeat either. In the long jump, our athletes won the audience's amazement and applause with their breakthroughs in the sandpit. In the javelin competition, the athletes showed their skills and each further moment won the enthusiastic cheers of the students. "One flower alone is not a spring, but a hundred flowers bloom together." In the team events, the athletes worked together and the colours of unity were shining on the field of leg-tying runs, big rope jumps and team relay races. The athletes' figures on the field not only reflected their love for sports, but also showed the enthusiasm and advancement of youth.

Our teaching staff also actively participated in the games, with teachers competing in fun and challenging events such as solid ball, walking with a cane, football kicking and basketball throwing. In this competition, our staff members were full of energy and won the applause and applause of the students with their excellent performance. They conveyed and practised the spirit of sports with their actions, demonstrating the sunny, positive and courageous spirit of our staff.

In the Games, the new athletes performed well and made great achievements. 22-year undergraduate student counsellor Lu Xingxue won the second place in the men's 100m walking with a cane competition, 22-year student Zhao Shiliang took the first place in the men's 400m race, 21-year student Yan Gongyao won the championship in the triple jump, 21-year student Huang Yuting and 22-year student Shen Danping took the first place in the women's 100m race and women's 100m hurdles respectively. Our first place in the women's 4 x 100m relay and the co-ed relay added to the excitement of the Games. In addition, our athletes achieved good results in the women's 200m, the small rope jump and the co-ed 50m 24-man 25-foot race. Our college won the fourth place in the total score of women's team, as well as the excellent publicity award and the title of excellent honor guard, which is the best testimony to the joint efforts of all the teachers and students of Xin Chuan!

After two days of fierce competition, all members welcomed the closing ceremony of the Games. Secretary Wu Hongyang delivered a closing speech, in which he affirmed and encouraged the wonderful performance of all the athletes, staff and performance squads. At the same time, he hoped that all students would love life, actively participate in physical exercise, achieve all-round development of moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic and social development, and show the vitality and enthusiasm of youth.

Passion and sweat, against the blazing April sun, collided on the sports field of Zheng University, bursting out with youthful vigour and passion! Whether it was the victors who embraced the medals or the regrettable ones who missed the podium, the students of Xin Chuan told a constant truth with their actions: the meaning of sports is far more than just the laurels, the gesture of striving is already moving enough. Only by turning hard work and sweat into the pursuit of footsteps, with firm belief in the heart, steady steps and perseverance, can we welcome the flowers and applause at the finish line. (Text: Tan Yufei, Zhang Jifei, Zhang Jiabing)