Blood, sweat and cheers

Deeply moved

In Paris, Yang Qiuxia celebrated her successful defense of the women's singles SU5 title by rushing into the arms of her coach, Zhang Xianming, with both shedding tears of joy and relief. The emotions behind the tears were complex — a blend of triumph and release after years of relentless effort.

Zhang reflected on their journey, noting that Yang had cried several times throughout their years together. From her Tokyo triumph to this Paris victory, Yang's achievements have come at the cost of immense perseverance and sacrifice, Zhang said.

At 48, Zhang has devoted half her life to coaching para badminton, beginning her journey in 2001.

"My initial intention was to offer these children happiness through sports. To see them reach the highest podium through their own hard work is the greatest reward," Zhang said.

In para sports, preventing secondary injuries and avoiding further disability are paramount. Zhang explained that while the training regimen for the para badminton team mirrors that of professional teams, it is tailored to meet the specific needs of each classification and athlete. The focus is on meticulously managing exercise loads and maximizing the quality of training sessions.

Despite her long tenure, Zhang remains deeply moved by the athletes' indomitable spirit. "Often, they only pause for rest under my 'mandatory' guidance," she said.

Zhang revealed that her time with the athletes has significantly surpassed the time spent with her own family since entering the para sports arena. She views the athletes as her own children, and they, in turn, regard her and her coaching team as their closest confidants.

"We consider our badminton team a big family," Zhang said with a smile. "The female coaches are like 'moms', and the male coaches are like 'dads'."