Fighting through the darkness

Among the cheering spectators in the stands at the national championships on Tuesday was the Chinese para ice hockey team, which surprised the nation by winning a precious bronze medal at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. Even for hardy hockey players, the energy and spirit of the para judo athletes were astonishing.

"This is the first time myself and my teammates have attended a para judo competition. It's truly amazing and we are cheering them on," said Wang Zhidong, a core player of the hockey team and a Team China flag-bearer at the Beijing 2022 opening ceremony.

"Our training base is not too far away from this competition venue. The skills that the para judokas are showcasing here are really impressive. They are so strong physically and have great spirit."

The Chinese para judo team was founded in 1994. Since then, the squad has won nine gold, nine silver and six bronze Paralympic medals. Last week's nationals acted as one of the trials for the Asian Para Games, which will take place in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, in October.