Para teams set to leave mark on ice

Gliding toward the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics with a glittering record, Yue Qingshuang is determined to help China's wheelchair curling team start anew.

"We've delivered strong results on the international stage in recent years, and now many other national teams are targeting us, studying and analyzing our plays," said Yue, the team's head coach, during a recent interview at an ice arena in Beijing ahead of the Paralympics in March. "What matters now is keeping the mindset of starting over, focusing on ourselves and making sure we perform on the Paralympic ice as we do in training."

China's wheelchair curling team is one of the most successful programs in the sport. The squad has two Paralympic gold medals and four world championship titles, achievements that have made it a focal point for rivals seeking to close the gap.

Group training for the Milano-Cortina cycle began in July 2025. From the current squad of 12 athletes, seven will ultimately be selected to compete in both the mixed team and mixed doubles events at the Paralympics.

In wheelchair curling, athletes use a 2.45-meter-long delivery stick to propel stones down the ice while a teammate anchors their wheelchair. Unlike able-bodied curling, sweeping is not allowed, making precision, judgment and tactical planning even more decisive.

"Curling has been called 'snooker on ice' because it demands the right angle and controlled force," Yue said. "Even a slight deviation can change the outcome."

Yue said the team's early training focused heavily on physical conditioning and strength work, particularly to build the power needed for stone delivery and to improve upper-body endurance.

"We gradually shifted to a training model that combines on-ice and off-ice drills," she said. "We also competed overseas against other national teams, which helped us analyze their characteristics and assess our own readiness."

Among the team's younger members is Zhang Qiang, who joined the wheelchair curling program in 2020. A former short-track speed skater, Zhang also trained in Paralympic ice hockey and alpine skiing, making him no stranger to speed and adrenaline.

What ultimately drew him to curling, however, was the sport's strategic depth.

"I find real satisfaction in analyzing every single move," Zhang said.

Although the final roster for the 2026 Paralympics has yet to be announced, Zhang said he is not preoccupied with selection. Instead, he is focused on learning from veteran teammates and steadily refining his technique.

"Being part of the wheelchair curling team has broadened my social world and made me more outgoing," Zhang said. "It truly feels like a new chapter in my life."

Just meters away from the curling sheets where the team trains each day, China's Para ice hockey squad is also deep into preparations.

The team made its Paralympic debut at Beijing 2022, capturing a bronze medal and marking a breakthrough moment for the program. Since then, expectations have risen as the sport continues to develop in China.

Wang Zhidong, who plays center, said the team now undertakes four to five physical conditioning sessions each week, each lasting about two hours, in addition to match-simulation drills and video analysis.

"After training, my whole body often aches, but the feeling is deeply fulfilling," Wang said.

He said coordination on the ice and mental readiness are central to the team's buildup for Milano-Cortina.

"Physical strength is important, but hockey is also about trust, communication and staying composed," Wang said. "We've learned a lot since Beijing 2022."

As the Paralympics approach, Wang said the team aims to compete with greater calm and confidence.

"We will approach the Paralympics with a steadier mindset," he said. "We want to show the world how far China's Para ice hockey has progressed over the past few years."

For both teams training under the same roof in Beijing, the road to Milano-Cortina 2026 is defined by a balance of experience and renewal — building on past success while resisting the comfort of familiarity.

"We know what it takes to win," Yue said. "But at the Paralympics, every game starts at zero."