Wheelchair tennis players train hard for Rio Paralympics

Wei Zujun, 24 years old, is training for the upcoming Rio Paralympics at the Guangzhou Sports Center for People with Disabilities. Wei was born with a congenital leg malformation, and had amputation surgery on his right leg when he was 12. He got the chance to become a wheelchair tennis player when he was 15. It was very hard for him to play tennis in a wheelchair. He has to play tennis with his right hand while controlling the chair with his left, and he often suffers with blister on both hands.

Wei became the first athlete to win a place on the men’s tennis team in the Rio Paralympics with his credits earned in international games. There are only two qualified players on the Chinese men’s Paralympics team this year. The team just won its first world cup championship in Tokyo in May, and they are confident about their future.

There are three players on the women’s team, from Guangdong, Sichuan, and Shandong.

Dong Fuli is the coach of the women’s team. She lost her right leg in the Tangshan earthquake in 1976. Dong started her career in wheelchair tennis in 1992, and was selected to the national team later. Dong was regarded as the “No.1 player of Women’s Wheelchair Tennis in China”

Zhu Zhenzhen is 26 years old, and has been playing wheelchair tennis for eight years. She ranked 13th globally with her credits and got a chance to compete at Rio. Although there were many difficulties, Zhu insisted on playing wheelchair tennis and reached her goal because she loves the game.

The players are confident about their future. They hope that more people with disabilities will be able to change their lives and realize their dreams through wheelchair tennis.