Looking at Pan Ximing's resume, there were not many highlights before. Born in 1993 in Heilongjiang, he is an age-eligible player for the Olympic team. Standing 1.84 meters tall, he plays as a center-back. Before going abroad, he played for a third-tier club, the Xi'an Laochenggen Club. Last summer, Pan Ximing was discovered by a scout and, through the efforts of his agent, went to Portugal to develop his career, eventually joining Gondomar in the Portuguese Championship. At that time, other Chinese players playing for Gondomar included Guo Yi and goalkeeper Yeerjieti. The previously unknown Pan Ximing truly demonstrated his potential in Portugal.
"When I first arrived in Portugal, I was not adapted, not only to the environment but also to the game on the pitch," said Pan Ximing. Although the Portuguese Championship is the third tier of Portuguese football, it features intense physical contact and a fast pace, "much harder than the China League One." Like many players who go abroad, Pan Ximing went through a difficult adjustment period, but fortunately, he gritted his teeth and persevered. Half a year after arriving in Portugal, relying on his outstanding performance in training, Pan Ximing gradually secured his position and has been unstoppable since.
Starting from December 28 last year, Pan Ximing entered the starting lineup for the first time and performed exceptionally well. Since then, he has solidified his position as a starter. "The competition in the team was quite fierce at the time, and the previous starting center-backs had experience in the Primeira Liga and LigaPro, but the coach trusted me more," said Pan Ximing. A series of numbers record Pan Ximing's growth: from the end of December to now, the Portuguese Championship has held 16 matches, and Pan Ximing has started in every one of them, playing the full 90 minutes in all 16 consecutive games. In the 16 matches he played, Gondomar conceded a total of 8 goals, kept 8 clean sheets, and even set a record of five consecutive matches without conceding a goal.
During the matches, Pan Ximing's characteristics were fully utilized. Although he is only 1.84 meters tall, he is excellent in the air and very physically strong, holding his own even when competing against powerful forwards. In the 16 matches, Pan Ximing, as a center-back, also scored two goals. "Both were headers," Pan Ximing said with a smile, and both of his goals were game-winners, helping the team secure victories.
Compared to other age-eligible Olympic players, Pan Ximing is a bit of a late bloomer. After making a name for himself at Gondomar, his outstanding performance caught the attention of Olympic team head coach Fu Bo, who eventually called him up to the Olympic team. In this Toulon Tournament, Pan Ximing will wear the national team jersey for the first time. Since Pan Ximing is the only true center-back on this Olympic roster, he will face a great test, which will also be a very good training process for him.
It is worth mentioning that goalkeeper Yeerjieti, who also plays for Gondomar, has been a regular on the Olympic team and has also been selected for this roster. He will compete in the Toulon Tournament alongside Pan Ximing. "This is my first time entering a national-level team, which can be considered a breakthrough. This time, I am mainly here to learn. I hope to display my strengths, play well, and help the team." Pan Ximing is full of anticipation for the upcoming Olympic journey.
