Chinese-born American football player Li Boqiao urges aspiring Asians to embrace ‘relentless, underdog mentality’ ahead of BC Lions debut
- The 25-year-old is training in Beijing and Hainan ahead of debut Canadian Football League season
- ‘Stop being racist and support each other,’ the promising linebacker said, contrasting Chinese and US American football scenes
Li Boqiao is in his native Beijing grinding away ahead of his debut season in the Canadian Football League (CFL) but the Chinese linebacker did not forget to give his Asian heritage a shout-out as the US’ Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month draws to a close.
“So I would say to young Chinese or Asian players who are motivated by me: train and compete, do what we do at the highest level. Keep that relentless effort, that underdog mentality, man. Be self-made. That’s it.”
Li – all 6’3 (191cm), 240 pounds (109kg) of him – was also the first and only Chinese player inducted into the National Football League (NFL) International Player Pathway programme in 2019.
The University of Charleston graduate made a name for himself at college Division II level after remarkably only taking up the sport aged 15 in China’s comparatively young set-up.
He elaborated on his cross-cultural journey in his unique Chinese-speaking BC Lions interview earlier in the week, calling the US environment “very different” but fulfilling as earning a scholarship allowed him to continue his obsession with American football.
