On the morning of July 17, inside the Hengyang Sports Center, banners fluttered in the wind and rallying drums beat loudly. With the 2026 Hunan Super League (Xiangchao) set to kick off, the city of Hengyang held a grand send-off ceremony for its representing team in the highest-profile manner. Zhu Jian, Secretary of the CPC Hengyang Municipal Committee, presented the flag to the team. Liu Zhongjie, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Hengyang Municipal Committee and Mayor of Hengyang, delivered a speech. Liu Zhengxing, Director of the Standing Committee of the Hengyang Municipal People's Congress, and Wu Shuguang, Chairman of the Hengyang Municipal Committee of the CPPCC, attended the event.

At the stadium, players of Team Hengyang, clad in their unified jerseys, stood in high spirits and neat formation. From the passionate fan section came tidal waves of cheers, with flags dancing above the stands—turning the venue into a sea of fervor. Zhu Jian, Liu Zhongjie, and other leaders walked onto the field to exchange greetings with the players, coaches, and representatives from the Hengyang Football Association Fan Branch, who had spent months in preparation and were primed for competition, offering them words of encouragement.

Zhu Jian stated that the Municipal Party Committee, the Municipal Government, and the people of the city will always serve as the unwavering backing of the Hengyang Xiangchao team. He wished the team a flying start and victory in every match, urging them to demonstrate the soaring fighting spirit of Hengyang's people on the league stage and achieve excellent results.

In his address, Liu Zhongjie remarked that after a year-long hiatus, the Xiangchao League—eagerly anticipated by the entire city—is about to kick off. He expressed hope that the coaching staff and athletes will give their all, fine-tuning their physical conditioning and competitive form to peak levels, to deliver top-tier performances and strive for great honors. He called on them to vigorously uphold Hengyang's spirit of "striving for excellence, tackling tough challenges, united in hard work, and never giving up"—to fight for the honor of their hometown and bring glory to the city. By showcasing exemplary sportsmanship, he said, the team will project the image of a civilized city and attract more friends to "come visit Hengyang if you're free on the weekend."

Subsequently, Zhu Jian handed the bright red team flag to player representative Liu Peilin. As the flag was waved in the wind, the venue erupted in warm applause.

"Fair play, fight bravely! Sweep aside all rivals, meet at the summit!" All coaches and players took a solemn oath. Their resounding pledge—weighty and powerful—fully demonstrated the firm determination of Hengyang's footballers to compete with unity, civility, and an unyielding drive for excellence.

It is reported that the Hengyang representative team has completed an intensive pre-season training camp. On July 26, they will host their opening match against Shaoyang. Fans across the city are eagerly awaiting the spectacular debut of this formidable squad.

Vice Mayor Xie Hong presided over the flag-presentation ceremony. Municipal leaders Zhou Yumei and Chen Liyang also attended.