Time to slide with pride

China's wheelchair curlers and para ice hockey players showcase their skills at national championships

China's wheelchair curling and para ice hockey teams were among the nation's biggest success stories at Beijing 2022.

Now those teams are keen to welcome more people to the family, with the sports' ongoing national championships in Beijing testing the skills of both aspiring and established Paralympians.

More than 200 athletes, coaches and officials from across the nation are taking part in the 10-day championships, which began on Tuesday.

Experienced Paralympian Wang Haitao, representing Heilongjiang province, was heartened to see so many new faces on the ice.

"Since Beijing 2022, more provinces and cities are paying more attention to developing wheelchair curling. There are many new faces in our sport, and also at this championship," said Wang who helped Team China win wheelchair curling gold at the 2018 and 2022 Winter Paralympics.

"Years ago, no matter where we were playing, there were just a few faces there. Now it's different, and I also always meet new friends. I would describe curling as a gentle sport, and pretty much anyone can play it.

"But to actually master it, you need to use your brain and be clever with your tactics. So, when you manage to combine your skills and tactics to actually win a match, it brings a great sense of achievement, so you can really fall in love with this sport."

Yue Qingshuang, the head coach of China's wheelchair curling team, is also astounded by the rapid growth of the sport.

"When I first took over the national squad, I felt like my players were like pandas, because there were so few of them. So through the years, I have been searching for new talent and the best ways to promote our sport. Like I always say, we are trying to build a system that's attractive for newcomers to join," said Yue, who was a core player with the Chinese curling team that won gold at the 2009 world championships and bronze at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Under Yue's reign, China's wheelchair curlers won the nation's first ever Winter Paralympics gold in 2018, and last year the team retained its crown on home ice.

"There are so many unforgettable moments from the 2018 and 2022 Winter Paralympics. For me, curling has turned from a profession to a passion. Now I feel like I have to help our para athletes to achieve their dreams," Yue added.

"Being the national team coach means that I have to be away from my family sometimes. I've been with the team for so long, so I've witnessed their development. Now this is my second family.

"As a coach, I'm always very happy to see the emergence of new players and we expect to see the team continue its upward curve. Inside this big family, we look after all of our players — both on and off the ice. We need to maintain the positivity levels, and build a warm and homely atmosphere."

Plucky pucksters

Team China's para ice hockey team produced one of the biggest upsets of Beijing 2022 when it showed true grit to battle past more experienced opponents and claim bronze at the Games. It was a remarkable result considering the squad had only been in existence since 2017.

Team China player Zhang Zheng was back on the ice at the nationals, representing Shandong province, and he still swells with pride when he recalls that glorious campaign.

"I was a swimmer before I started playing para ice hockey. Initially, I knew very little about the sport — just that it is very competitive and pretty fierce. Honestly, I was a little bit scared when I saw others sliding directly toward me," Zhang told China Daily.

"I've made so many friends through this sport. More importantly, I've seen a bigger world as we travel a lot to competitions. That comes with a great sense of honor when we represent China. Also the sport, and just the entire process, has massively boosted my confidence.

"At first, we barely won anything. But after a lot of hard work, we started to win. So the bronze medal at Beijing 2022 was so important. I was thrilled, because it proved that all our hard work over the years had paid off."

Liu Chengyuan, an official from the China Administration of Sports for Persons with Disabilities who has responsibility for para ice hockey, believes Team China's Beijing 2022 success is inspiring more youngsters to venture onto the ice.

"The bronze medal was really encouraging for us. The team hadn't been together very long, yet we still produced these great achievements. And that was vindication for everyone's efforts to overcome all difficulties," said Liu.

"I was so thrilled on that glorious night at the Winter Paralympics that I cried. Our players told media that it was a bronze medal made out of sweat and blood, and they were not exaggerating. This is such a fierce sport that being injured is just normal.

"After Beijing 2022, the national championship is a great chance for new players to test themselves. We have also just completed a training camp for the newbies. So the plan is to set up a ladder system that allows promising talent to ascend the ranks and join our team. With great passion for this sport, we can march together toward a promising future."