Chinese player to compete for a spot in NFL pathway program

BEIJING, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- China's Li Boqiao has become the country's first American football player to join the NFL's International Player Pathway Program for 2020.

First run in 2017, the program aims to provide international athletes with the opportunity to compete at an NFL level and ultimately earn a spot on the roster of an NFL team.

23-year-old Li, who was born in Beijing, will begin training in the U.S. next month along with eight other hopefuls from across the world.

Through the program, the players will have the chance to showcase their ability to NFL scouts in March in the hope of being signed as a free agent or being selected for practise squads for next season.