China’s Li Boqiao joins Canadian Football League’s BC Lions

Beijing-born linebacker heads to Canada after stints with NFL pathway programme and China Arena Football

‘I’m very excited to play as a Chinese player for BC Lions and become involved in the Asian community in Vancouver’ Li says

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Chinese outside linebacker Li Boqiao graduated from University of Charleston in 2020. Photo: Handout

Published: 3:30pm, 17 Apr 2021Updated: 4:28pm, 17 Apr 2021

Chinese linebacker Li Boqiao is raring to show his defensive prowess after being successfully drafted into the Canadian Football League (CFL) on Friday.

The 25-year-old Beijing native joins Vancouver-based BC Lions of the league’s West Division after being picked in the second round. He was the only Chinese-born entrant in this year’s CFL Global Draft.

“I’m very excited. I got a call at 2am Beijing time from my agent saying I’m a new BC Lion. God blessed me with the opportunity to play overseas. It’s a dream come true for me, I’m very excited for the season,” Li said.

“I’m very excited to play as a Chinese player for BC Lions and become involved in the Asian community in Vancouver.”

Chinese outside linebacker Li Boqiao at the NFL international player pathway programme in Tampa, Florida in 2019.. Photo: Handout

Li became the first and only Chinese-born National Football League (NFL) International Player Pathway inductee in August last year. Though he narrowly missed the final cut, he said it would only motivate him to work even hard to make his dream come true.

The University of Charleston graduate said the NFL programme helped develop him as an outside linebacker and he was ready to put his defensive abilities into action in the new season.