[3] Dezhu first represented China at the 2017 Asian Indoor Games, advancing to the semifinals but not qualifying for the final.

[1] After several podium finishes, he would win his first Chinese Athletics Championships title in 2021 in the 1500 metres.

[2] Dezhu was born to a poor rural family in Baise, Guangxi, China.

[2] He trained as much as 15–20 kilometres (9.3–12.4 mi) per day and in 2016 he was selected for the Guangxi regional athletics team.

One year later, he was named to the national team and shortly after began training in Kenya.