UNIQUE: Chinese football team invites Xiang Yu onto the field for a major victory

Ha Run Dong's portrayal of Xiang Yu ignited Chinese spectators, boosting morale for Su Tian to enter the match with excitement and secure a convincing win against Nanjing.

Chinese media reported that a provincial-level match in Jiangsu became a special phenomenon, as cultural-historical elements were directly brought onto the pitch. On April 18 evening, at Su Tian Olympic Stadium, the clash between Su Tian and Nanjing in the 2026 Jiangsu Province City Football League (Su Chao) attracted significant attention from fans nationwide.

According to 163, the tournament inherently features intense competition among cities within the province, but this time was elevated to a climax by the opening ceremony themed “The Return of the Overlord.” Nearly 30,000 spectators present witnessed actor Ha Run Dong appearing majestically in the role of Xiang Yu. This detail became the focal point throughout, creating a special spiritual boost for the home team.

According to Chinese press, the choice of Xiang Yu's image was not random. Su Tian is considered the hometown of the renowned general from the late Qin–early Han period, and the locality has long utilized the image of the Western Chu Overlord in tourism promotion. Integrating historical symbols into football is seen as a creative fusion of sports and cultural identity.

The idea to invite Ha Run Dong originated from a social media trend about the “ideal general.” Amid many viewers' dissatisfaction with modern film portrayals of military leaders, the role of Xiang Yu in “Han Chu Legend” unexpectedly resurfaced as an ideal model. After the match was confirmed, netizens proposed inviting the actor to cheer.

Notably, this proposal was quickly accepted by local authorities. Su Tian's culture-tourism department contacted Ha Run Dong's team and completed preparations in less than a week. The actor not only appeared symbolically but invested thoroughly in recreating the character.

The costume was restored based on the team previously involved in the film, with armor weighing nearly 10kg. The image of the “Overlord” standing on a chariot entering the field amid war drums, banners, and cheers created an extremely lively atmosphere, directly spreading to the home team's competitive spirit.

On the pitch, Su Tian started with high excitement, scoring two early goals and completely controlling the game against Nanjing. The 2-0 victory not only drew attention professionally but also became a topic of discussion on social media, as many humorously commented: “Su Tian played with 12 men. And the 12th player was the Western Chu Overlord, invincible under heaven—how could they not win?”