[Explanation] Recently, the Chinese wheelchair curling team and the Paralympic ice hockey team conducted training camps in Beijing.
The Chinese wheelchair curling team is an "honorary team" that has won two consecutive Winter Paralympic gold medals in Pingchang and Beijing. Right now, the team is preparing intensely for the 2023 World Wheelchair Curling Championships to be held in Canada in early March.
[Same period] Yue Qingshuang, coach of the Chinese wheelchair curling team
What we are facing now may be the World Championships in March, including the 2026 (Milan Winter Paralympics), and a new four-year preparation period begins.
During our preparations for this year, I think the main thing is to bring the old together with the new, because with the addition of some new players, I hope that everyone can have a new and good start in the running-in.
[Explanation] The Chinese team in this World Championships will also participate in the wheelchair curling mixed doubles event. This event will be established at the 2026 Milan Winter Paralympics. The Chinese wheelchair curling team has never participated in this event before.
[Same period] He Yongju, director of the third competition and training department of the China Disabled Sports Management Center
The five-a-side curling may be more challenging for their teamwork, including connection, and it requires a lot of each base. The two-person curling may have higher requirements for their ice-reading ability, and the rules of the game are also a little different. .
We also hope that through the development of this project, more disabled athletes can join our team and create more opportunities for them.
[Same period] Yue Qingshuang, coach of the Chinese wheelchair curling team
Because two people (wheelchair curling mixed doubles) we only started from this session. Although our players are old faces, we are indeed a new team.
We still have many opponents, so we should continue to learn, because after all, we are participating in the Mixed Doubles World Championships in the first year.
[Explanation] Wang Haitao, an athlete of the Chinese wheelchair curling team, said that at the beginning of the new preparation cycle, he will forget the past honors and start from scratch. He also hopes that he can play the core role of the team.
[Concurrent] Chinese wheelchair curling team player Wang Haitao
In fact, the honor has passed. It cannot be said that every day you "hold" and think about what championship I won before. The new cycle has already started anew, so forget the past and start from scratch.
I hope that I can play the core role of the team and lead our newcomers. I can play a role when they are nervous and helpless.
[Explanation] In the adjacent ice hockey training ground, 17 Chinese Paralympic ice hockey players are gliding hard on the ice, conducting passing and passing training.
In the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympics, the Chinese Paralympic ice hockey team won the bronze medal for the first time in the Winter Paralympics.
Shen Yifeng, who scored the first goal of the Chinese team in the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games, said that the "stone" in his heart fell to the ground the moment he won the bronze medal.
[Concurrent] Chinese Paralympic ice hockey player Shen Yifeng
Because we have been preparing for training before the competition, which is a closed training. Every day is very hard. After passing the Winter Paralympic Games and winning the bronze medal, everything in our hearts is like a stone fell to the ground. After seeing the big stage of this (this) Winter Paralympic Games, we are more united and cooperate more tacitly.
[Explanation] In May, the Chinese Paralympic ice hockey team will participate in Group A of the Paralympic Ice Hockey World Championships for the first time. Shen Yifeng said that the whole team will unite to play every game well and strive for better results.
[Concurrent] Chinese Paralympic ice hockey player Shen Yifeng
Because we qualified for the Paralympic Games through the 2021 Group B Championship, and also promoted to Group A. We participated in the Group A Championship for the first time, and we are also facing the strongest opponent in the world. It is also the highest level of Para ice hockey We will follow the arrangement of the coaches, play every game seriously, and strive to achieve better results in this group of championships.
Dong Zeyu Hao Lingyu reports from Beijing
Editor in charge: [Liu Xingchen]