HAIKOU, China, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The 2018 Boao International Kiteboarding Festival opened here at Yazhou Wan (or Asia Bay) in Boao town, south China's Hainan Province on Thursday.

The major event of this festival is the World YOG Qualification Event, from May 4 to May 8, in which 32 players from 32 countries and regions will compete for the qualification of 2018 Buenos Aires Summer Youth Olympic Games.

According to the rules of 2018 Buenos Aires YOG, there will be 12 places in the kite surfing program for male and female athletes all over the world apiece, and each country and region has only one place.

And intercontinental qualifying competitions were held before this event. Every continent has selected a male and a female contestant, and the remaining quota will be determined after the 5-day games.

"Four Chinese players will attend the competition, and they've trained a lot in order to win the qualification," said Zhai Dahui, coach of the Chinese players.

Foreign players also face challenges in the games. It's Lola Ulrich's first competition in Hainan, and she found the wind here is totally different from that in France.

"I need to get used to this quickly and practice more," said the 19-year-old French girl.