Foreign Athletes Go Shopping at Hanzheng Street

WUHAN (CHN) - Buying clothes, bags and sports equipment, five athletes from Chad experienced a day of "shopping" at Hanzheng Street on October 20.

"Manufacturing industry in China is well developed, and we want to buy some locally-produced goods in China.” Valentin Betoudji is an athlete representing Chad to compete in the Marathon in the Track and Field competition of the 7th CISM Military World Games (7th CWG). Upon arrival at the Athletes’ Village, he asked the staff where he could buy good-quality goods at competitive prices. The staff recommended Hanzheng Street in Wuhan.

On October 20, Valentin Betoudji and his four teammates departed from the Athletes’ Village. Guided by an interpreter, they took the subway to Hanzheng Street. They first came to the Hanzheng Street Branded Clothing Wholesale Plaza to buy hoodies, sweaters and so on for their families.

In the stores, they “bargained” with the merchants. Every time they felt satisfied with a commodity, they asked the interpreter to tell the merchant the size they want and the price they would accept to pay. In the store selling bags and cases, the athletes bought two suitcases to bring back to Chad. Then, they bought some sports equipment such as Track and Field stopwatches and skipping ropes at the Hanzheng Street National Sports Mall.

“Good quality, good style, good service! We really like the goods in Hanzheng Street. Everything made in China is very good!” Valentin Betoudji said, “Hanzheng Street is too big for us to finish visiting it in one day. If there is a chance, I will bring my family here in the future.”

Mahamat Ali Abdoulaye Sabre, Chief of the Mission of Chad, said: “People in Wuhan are very enthusiastic. No matter where we are, people say ‘welcome’ to us.”

This year, Chad has sent a total of 15 athletes to compete in the Boxing and Track and Field competitions of the 7th CWG.

(Source: SUMOC Executive Committee - Reporter YANG Wei; Correspondent ZHU Lingping - Editor NIE Yang)