China's blind football team heading for London Paralympics

BEIJING - The London 2012 Paralympics is preparing to host the arrival of a sea of red and yellow shirts from China's participating Paralympics team, kicking off with China's Blind Football team on Aug 22 in the first event of the Paralympic Games.

China's blind athletes has prepared for London with a nine-month training camp in Fuzhou.

A team member of China's Blind Football team practices shooting during a training session ahead of the London 2012 Paralympics in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian province, Aug 14, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

The training helped to select eight athletes, two goalkeepers, a guide member, and a coach and five of the competing athlete's heading to London are from the Armed Forces who had previously competed at the Beijing Paralympics Games.

China's group stage opponents are Turkey, France and Brazil. Only the top two teams can qualify for the semifinals.

Dong Junjie, head coach of China, said that this is the strongest group of the event, with Beijing Paralympic Games champions Brazil, France and Turkey possessing quality and strength in depth.

At the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, Brazil was China's number one rival, but after the experience of 2008, the team are no longer in awe of the situation, but are united together as one to play to their best capabilities.

In 2005, China's Blind Football team was officially established, winning silver at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.

Since then, the team's record has been highly impressive, winning the Asian championship in 2009, runner-up in both the 2010 World Cup and 2011 World Blind Games respectively, and winners in the 2011 Asian Championships.

The London Paralympics Games will see a team of athletes preparing to do their best to get the best results.

The level of attention, commitment, skill and experience in the world of blind football has grown significantly and China is expected to face a tough fight in London.

Zhang Lijing, front, of China's Blind Football team stretches during a training session ahead of the London 2012 Paralympics in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian province, Aug 14, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]