TIANJIN - Wang Run, 13, boarded his first bullet train to go from his rural home to Tianjin, one of China's biggest metropolitan centers, to play checkers at the country's 13th National Games.

Seven months ago, Wang was an ordinary student in remote Yingshang county, Anhui province, where he had been left behind to live with his grandparents after his father and mother went away for work.

"Checkers has changed this young man's life," said coach Shi Zhengbin, who brought four left-behind children, including Wang, to the Tianjin tournament.