Scoring in three consecutive editions of the Centennial Elite Schools Cup became the most distinctive footnote of his youth at the High School Affiliated to Peking University.

Written by Meng Xiang. Written by Meng Xiang. "Watching the footage of my first competition in Qingdao, I realize I‘m a lot more robust than before," chuckled Xu Jiahe while flipping through his video platform account. 2026 marked Xu Jiahe’s third appearance in the Centennial Elite Schools Cup (high school level). Over three years, from Jinan to Guangzhou and then to Qingdao, the tournament has hosted hundreds of students, and Xu Jiahe is a unique figure among them.

In all three editions of the Centennial Elite Schools Cup, he was the only player from the High School Affiliated to Peking University to take part each time. From a substitute forward in his freshman year, to a starting center in the second edition, and now the oldest player on the team, Xu Jiahe’s role has evolved, and so has his personal growth. His bond with the team has deepened with each passing tournament.

The starting point of this bond was the first tournament in Jinan. At that time, Xu Jiahe was just a freshman and still a substitute forward. The team from the High School Affiliated to Peking University was made up entirely of regular academic students, with no sports specialists. Meanwhile, the Centennial Elite Schools Cup gathered high-level teams from across the country, many of which were built around soccer specialists. Xu Jiahe felt the gap in tactics, technique, and physicality in his very first match.

During the group stage, Xu Jiahe came on as a substitute. Facing opponents who were clearly stronger, he performed poorly. When he felt down, his teammates didn’t blame him; instead, they offered encouragement and comfort. Even after consecutive losses, everyone remained united. Head coach Liu Shizhe set the team’s philosophy: play with intelligence. If they couldn’t match the opponents physically, they should rely on their own passing and possession, play their own style, and do their best to compete. This was the survival strategy for a team of regular students at the Centennial Elite Schools Cup. For Xu Jiahe, that was his starting point in the tournament. Looking back, he laughed and said that he wasn’t strong enough at the time, but the team gave him plenty of room for mistakes.

When asked about the most memorable match, Xu Jiahe mentioned last year’s game in Nansha, Guangzhou. The team had been winless, and morale had hit rock bottom. With just ten minutes left in a game, the High School Affiliated to Peking University was still trailing 1-2. Head coach Liu Shizhe called Xu Jiahe over and told him to give it one last push. "As I walked past each teammate before going on, they all gently patted me on the shoulder," Xu Jiahe recalled. "At that moment, I truly felt an immense surge of strength."

After entering the field, Xu Jiahe "didn’t conserve his energy," sprinting with full effort every time. With three minutes left in regulation, he scored a dramatic equalizer. Unfortunately, the draw forced Xu Jiahe and his teammates into a penalty shootout, which they ultimately lost. However, they weren’t as disappointed as after previous defeats. "At least we fought for the High School Affiliated to Peking University, and we created our own miracle," Xu Jiahe said.

In the third tournament this year in Qingdao, Xu Jiahe became the oldest player on the team. The former substitute had turned into a senior that the team could rely on. In the elimination match against Chongqing No. 7 High School on August 4, Xu Jiahe scored in the 70th minute to seal the victory. It was his first goal of the tournament and made him the first player to score in three consecutive Centennial Elite Schools Cups. In the final match against Hefei Luyang Senior High School, Xu Jiahe scored again, helping his team level the score after trailing 0-2.

"My role has changed," Xu Jiahe said. "Over these three years, I can clearly feel the difference in myself each time I take part in the Centennial Elite Schools Cup." From being encouraged by seniors to becoming the oldest on the team, the word "oldest" itself speaks volumes. Team leader Liu Shizhe has his own observations about the growth of these students. "They will work hard for the sport they love." Every summer, the internal selection for the Centennial Elite Schools Cup is fiercely competitive, with students going all out to make the team. In Liu Shizhe’s view, the Centennial Elite Schools Cup is different from the China Youth Football League—it is a purely campus football event. Besides the game itself, there are exchange activities and lectures by renowned coaches, making it a more equal platform for students.

Xu Jiahe attends the International Department of the High School Affiliated to Peking University and will soon be a senior. He plans to apply to Boston University in the United States, and soccer will be a key part of his application essay—covering the competitions he has participated in from elementary school to now, and the growth soccer has brought him. "Soccer is a sport that will stay with me for life," he said. He intends to continue training in college and also wants to experience American soccer culture.

Xu Jiahe’s growth is closely tied to the strong sports atmosphere at the High School Affiliated to Peking University. The school has nine academies, and each year there are academy tournaments for soccer, basketball, floorball, flag football, and more. The school also runs a dedicated public account "youTHsport" that covers these events, which has amassed over 10,000 followers. For each competition, students are responsible for writing articles, editing texts, taking photos, and producing videos. At the High School Affiliated to Peking University, sports are about much more than just what happens on the field.

On the stage of the Centennial Elite Schools Cup, there are also young players like Xu Jiahe. Zha Weijie from Hangzhou High School Qiantang School participated in the Cup for the first time last year, and he came to Qingdao again this year. The team’s head coach, Kyosuke Akatsuka, wanted to see how much he had changed in this tournament over the past year. As last year’s third-place finisher, Hangzhou High School Qiantang’s performance declined this year. Zha Weijie attributed the reason to himself, saying that he failed to lead the younger players to play the team’s style like last year’s seniors did. If he gets another chance next year, he will prepare more thoroughly.

Whether it’s Xu Jiahe or Zha Weijie, both are young people who have grown up on the stage of the Centennial Elite Schools Cup. From Jinan to Guangzhou and then to Qingdao, this tournament is not only about the glory of champions, but also about the legacy of each participating team, as well as the growth and memories that belong to these students.