At the 12th Jiangsu Provincial Games for the Disabled, the focus on the court was matched by a dedicated effort from the sidelines. Their ongoing project, a documentary titled Palm Facing the Sun, aims to provide an intimate look at the lives and communication methods of deaf athletes.
Nanjing Men’s Team Narrowly Misses Semifinals
The tournament served as a dramatic backdrop for the students’ cameras. On the morning of November 4, the Nanjing men’s team faced a challenging quarterfinal match. Player Han Chao hit two consecutive three-pointers under heavy pressure to close the gap to a single point. With only five seconds remaining, the comeback fell short, and the team was eliminated from the final four by a one-point margin. The loss was a difficult moment for the players, as noted by the student film crew observing the emotional toll of high-stakes competition.
The Unique Language of the Court
Director Ma Xinya and her team—Yang Zichen, Wei Yiting, Guo Yuyao, and Xue Liunian—began the project to highlight how deaf athletes communicate through gestures and eye contact rather than sound. Ma explained to reporters that the team wanted to explore a subject that held greater social significance than more commonly documented topics. Their choice of the Nanjing team was influenced by the work of head coach Xu Xiangyang, whose social media updates on the team’s training and match progress caught their attention.
Xu, a teacher at the Nanjing Gulou Special Education School, has led the team since 2006. His coaching philosophy emphasizes treating his players as athletes first, focusing on standard training and rigorous analysis rather than relying on pity. His influence extends beyond the court, as he coordinates logistics, manages training schedules, and provides emotional support to players who often balance high-intensity sports with demanding jobs and family responsibilities.
Athletes Behind the Statistics
The documentary aims to move beyond the final score to capture the individual stories of the athletes. Despite a history of injury and significant family responsibilities, Gao has become a vital part of the team, having previously won a silver medal in the three-on-three national competition. Another team member, Fei Xinyu, a graduate of the Nanjing Deaf School, continues to attend training sessions despite working multiple part-time jobs to support his family.
Ma Xinya observed that for these athletes, basketball is a source of identity and mutual support. The players’ ability to coordinate precise passes and tactical maneuvers without auditory cues shows their deep familiarity and trust, a dynamic the student crew sought to capture throughout their months of filming.
Future Plans for the Documentary
As the production of Palm Facing the Sun approaches its final stages, the filmmakers intend to avoid a narrative focused on tragedy or sympathy. Instead, they hope to present a positive, uplifting portrait of the athletes’ ambition and resilience. Ma stated that the goal is to ensure the film reaches both special education platforms and mainstream audiences to foster a deeper understanding of the deaf sports community. Coach Xu Xiangyang continues to share footage on his social media channels, driven by the belief that these athletes deserve to be seen for their talent and dedication, with hopes of eventually establishing a five-on-five team to represent Jiangsu province in future competitions.
