The badminton (mass) competition of the 12th Paralympic Games of the People’s Republic of China and the 9th Special Olympics Games is being held in Shenzhen. On the field, Hunan team’s “post-2000” young player Huang Tianyu strikes out again with four years of accumulation, aiming for the championship with a more mature attitude; while Beijing team’s player Gao Lei cherishes the dream of standing on the podium for three consecutive years, conveying the persistence and warmth of sports inside and outside the field. They interpret disabled athletes’ love and pursuit of sports with their actions.
Huang Tianyu: “Post-00s” are determined to win the championship
Huang Tianyu, who was born in 2001, stood on the highest podium of the National Paralympic Games four years ago and became famous at a young age. This year, he came to the Shenzhen Sports Center Gymnasium with the goal of defending his title and said bluntly, “There is no pressure and I am very motivated.”
Huang Tianyu on the field. Photo provided by competition organizing committee
In the badminton (mass) competition of the 11th Paralympic Games and the 8th Special Olympics Games, Huang Tianyu, then 20 years old, won all seven games in the men’s singles event of the physically disabled standing group and became a blockbuster. The young man was not satisfied with this and continued to accumulate and improve in the next four years. “My strength is stronger, the quality of the ball is more stable, and my playing style is not so anxious.” To sum up, Huang Tianyu is now more mature on the court.
Since he started practicing at the age of 7, Huang Tianyu has become accustomed to having badminton in his life: “Training and competition are physical exercises, and I have made many friends in the process. I enjoy it very much.” When he came to compete in Shenzhen, some players took the initiative to talk to him about their skills. From the competition venue to his residence, he was full of praise for the excellent venue facilities, thoughtful service and warm atmosphere.
After passing through the group stage and knockout rounds, Huang Tianyu successfully won a seat in the semi-finals. He will launch an all-out attack on the podium on the last competition day and strive to realize his dream of winning the championship.
Gao Lei: He hopes to be on the podium in all three competitions
A total of 8 matches were played on two match days, and Gao Lei successfully advanced to the semi-finals of men’s singles in the standing group with physical disabilities. This Beijing player was the men’s singles champion in the standing category of the physically disabled (mass) at the 10th Paralympic Games and the runner-up in the men’s singles category at the 11th Paralympic Games. For the third time participating in the Paralympic Games, Gao Lei also participated in the men’s doubles competition. “If you want to participate in more events, doubles will test your cooperation with your partner, which is a different kind of fun.” He said.
Gao Lei on the field. Photo provided by competition organizing committee
Gao Lei graduated from Beijing Normal University with a major in physical education and is currently a physical education teacher at Gonghua School in Changping District, Beijing. He is involved in ball games, track and field and other sports. In addition to badminton, he has enjoyed playing basketball since he was a child.
During college, Gao Lei received systematic professional badminton training, and under the leadership of his seniors and teammates, his level improved rapidly. After starting work, the school has a strong badminton atmosphere, and school leaders and physical education teachers are all “frequent visitors” to the gym. Gao Lei not only leads students to participate in various competitions, but also often competes with golfers in his spare time. “When I meet someone who is excellent at a certain skill, I will take the initiative to ask for advice, and then I will study and improve myself.”
Every time he participated in the competition, the school gave Gao Lei strong support and actively coordinated course arrangements. Students are also very concerned about where they can watch the live broadcast of Teacher Gao’s competition. “My classmates cheered for me before setting off. I also want to perform well and set an example for the children.” Gao Lei often tells students that they must develop the habit of physical exercise and find their favorite sports, which will bring a lot of gains in the process of growing up.
When he came to Shenzhen, Gao Lei’s wish was to be on the podium for three consecutive years. Achievements and honors are the eternal pursuit of athletes, but in his opinion, the spirit of hard work, unity, cooperation and never admitting defeat embodied in the process of pursuing dreams is more valuable. “This is what I have always pursued, and I hope to pass it on to my students and the people around me.”
Original title: “China News Network｜Dreams and Heritage: Two Badminton Players’ Paralympics Journey”
