They likely knew full well that they were following a trail blazed by the Soviet Union in the 1930s. Throughout the nation, schoolgirls were encouraged to play both chess and xiangqi. The most talented were plunged into Soviet-like training programs. Those who chose chess, got the chance to strike out into a vast international network. By Asian standards, the chess world is enormously rich and well lit.
Victories bring high publicity at a low cost, to the delight of officials.
And led by Jun XIE, China's women have served up two decades of delights, including two world championships, and several braces of Olympic medals. This has created a real threat to xiangqi's place in China s sporting establishment. For the women who chose Chinese chess, world renown is only a dream. In their fiercely competitive orbit, the lights shine inward. They are famous all over China, and role models for millions of schoolgirls.