Fan Hongyan, a member of the Chinese lawn bocce team, is an athlete with complete blind vision, and it took her more than two years to grow from a zero foundation in lawn bocce to a professional player. She says lawn bocce has helped her get out of the house again and regain confidence in life.
In the past few days, Fan Hongyan is training with the players. The 46-year-old has worked as a fruit inspector and masseur, and her vision gradually declined to total blindness five years ago due to macular lesions in the fundus area.
After being completely blind, Fan Hongyan first participated in the blind goalball sport and was selected for the national team of lawn bocce two years ago. Learning lawn bocce with zero foundation is not small for Fan Hongyan.
Fan Hongyan, athlete of the lawn bocce event of the Chinese delegation at the Asian Para Games: I am blind the day after tomorrow, and my voice judgment is not as accurate as theirs, when I first started to practice, two balls and three balls went out, and at least one of my balls went to others. Secretly moved all the luggage and told our coach that I would not go after the New Year.
However, the hard work of the whole team and the concern of her teammates made her finally choose to stay and continue to compete in the Asian Para Games.
Fan Hongyan, a lawn-bocce athlete of the Chinese delegation at the Asian Para Games: I opened a small stove by myself and kept practicing. Sometimes in the hallway of the dormitory, with apples and pomelo as balls, the balls I practice in one day are worth the balls they practice in a week.
Ning Jianping, guide of the lawn bocce event of the Chinese delegation to the Asian Para Games: I practiced there alone, threw it out and then got the ball back, this spirit touched me very much.
The kung fu paid off, and the continuous practice made Fan Hongyan's ball skills improve by leaps and bounds, and she also found the joy of practicing lawn bocce.
Last year, Fan Hongyan won the gold medal in the women's singles lawn bocce at the Zhejiang Provincial Para Games. Standing on the international stage of the 4th Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, Fan Hongyan is full of confidence.
Fan Hongyan, athlete of the lawn bocce event of the Chinese delegation at the Asian Para Games: I hope to play my usual training level, hope to win medals and gold, realize one of my own values, and prove that we disabled people can also win glory for the country.
(CCTV reporter Zhou Peipei, Zhejiang TV)