Year 9 student Madi Mark is counting down the days until she represents Australia in Futsal for the first time. You can read the full story below, or visit the QT Website.

Futsal fan Madi to represent Australia

Madi, 14, has been chosen in the national under 16 futsal team playing in next month's Pearl River Delta Championships in China. She heads off on August 2 for the four-day tournament.

Having started as a soccer player aged five, she discovered a new sporting endeavour as part of WestMAC's highly successful Football Excellence program.

Mum Julie said while Madi enjoyed playing soccer, futsal has given the regular defender an international opportunity.

"She's very excited,'' Julie said, happy with what WestMAC offered her daughter. "It's a great program and now she actually likes futsal more than soccer. She's loving it.''

Ipswich-based Madi has already represented Queensland twice at national titles - sharing in third place finishes at tournaments in Oxley last year and Sydney this year.

In China, Madi will be one of eight Aussie players having two days of training before playing against teams from China, Taiwan, US and Korea. The championships, similar to Australian titles, are based in Jiangmen with other games in Zhongshan, Foshan and Heshan.

The year nine student impressed selectors representing West Moreton at the regional futsal championships in April.

West Moreton finished second.

The China experience is through the Gol Brasil Academy, giving Madi a terrific chance to bond and improve her game with other elite futsal teenagers.

"Futsal gives them more opportunities, especially for girls,'' Julie said, proud of Madi's rapid rise in the fast-paced sport.

Story credit - David Lems, QT