12th Hunan Provincial Para Games conclude in Yiyang with record participation

Record Participation Across 11 Sports and 566 Events

The provincial games drew 731 athletes from all 14 prefectures and cities across Hunan, making it the edition with the most participants and competition items in the event’s history. Competitors contested 625 gold medals across 11 major sports and 566 distinct medal events.

Among the standout competitors, 43-year-old Gu Jue secured Changsha’s first gold medal of the games on the track despite competing with steel reinforcement pins in her ankle. In the pool and on the mat, veteran and newcomer performances redefined expectations. Liu Li posted steady, decisive victories in blind judo, while 9-year-old Yu Hongbo competed as Changsha’s youngest athlete in the swimming events.

Other notable multi-event performances included Dai Zeyu, an athlete with a single arm who claimed four gold medals, noting that athletic competition helped him overcome shyness and build confidence. Peng Shenghong, a six-time veteran competitor missing an arm and a leg, pointed to physical conditioning gains, while wheelchair-using couple Wu Binbin and Xiao Ruoxi transitioned from receiving round-the-clock care to stepping onto the podium.

Overcoming Personal Barriers in Combat and Aquatics

In the women’s K11 class 52–57 kg taekwondo division, 47-year-old athlete Li Ye claimed the gold medal with a decisive strike to her opponent’s protective gear. Li, who lost both arms at the age of three, entered the sport after repeated recruitment efforts by her coaching staff.

Following months of rigorous, tear-filled training designed to match younger teammates, Li described waking up from sleep with involuntary leg tremors caused by high-intensity kicking drills. Standing on the podium, she accepted her gold medal and used her shoulder and head to steady a congratulatory bouquet of flowers for the cameras.

In the swimming pool, 9-year-old visually impaired swimmer Yu Hongbo completed the men’s SM11 class 200-meter individual medley. Swimming alongside older competitors, Yu relied on lane markers to find his way across the pool under the watchful eye of his mother, He Shan, who stood at poolside through every training session and heat.

“Although everyone competing was older than me, I wanted to step up and show what I can do,” Yu said after finishing his race.

Public infrastructure improvements accompanied the athletic competition. The newly completed Taojiang Swimming Pool featured integrated accessibility enhancements, including designated parking spaces, drop-off zones, wheelchair ramps, a 650-meter tactile blind walkway, accessible elevators, and pool entry hoists designed to accommodate adaptive competitors.

Community Support Networks Expand Across Hunan

Beyond individual competition, athletes highlighted the role of organized support groups and inclusive athletic communities. Zhangjiajie visually impaired athlete Shang Lei organized the “Special Running Group” public welfare running team in 2022. The organization has expanded from four visually impaired members to nearly 300 guides, supporting more than 50 visually impaired runners in outdoor training and fitness.

In manufacturing and athletics, four wheelchair users from the Loudi Tenda Daily Necessities Company secured strong results in javelin and wheelchair racing events. Founded by competitors He Yong, Wang Xinde, Cai Chaohui, and Zeng Kaiwen, the enterprise employs and supports workers with disabilities while encouraging staff participation in adaptive sports.

The closing ceremony in Yiyang also highlighted community-crafted details, including 1500 handmade woven presentation bouquets created by more than 200 disabled artisans and family members across the province.

With the flame extinguished in Yiyang, representatives from Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan accepted the flag to begin preparations for the next games.