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Shijiazhuang, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- With a difference of 1 kilogram, Chinese star Qi Yongkai ranked second in the men's weightlifting 59 kilogram competition at the Paris Paralympics. In Zuojiawu Village, Fengrun District, Tangshan City, Hebei Province, late at night, more than 20 relatives, friends, and neighbors sat around Qi Yongkai's grandmother's house, and some even lay out of the window, looking at Qi Yongkai on the TV with tears in their eyes.
"Weightlifting is such a 'calculating' sport, this time the gap is not big, a bit of a pity, but Qi Yongkai's performance throughout the game is relatively stable, I hope he can continue to challenge himself in the next competition." Lei Lei said.
As Qi Yongkai's enlightenment coach, Lei Lei won the national championship in her career, broke the national record and the Asian record, and returned to her hometown Tangshan to teach after retiring, and the two sides became a mentor and apprentice in 2012. "He is characterized by a smart brain, he can learn as soon as he learns, he can draw inferences from others, and he is a very smart child." He commented on Qi Yongkai.
In 1998, Qi Yongkai was born in Fengrun District and was diagnosed with a congenital leg defect. As the eldest grandson in the family, Qi Yongkai's arrival is a great joy, but it will inevitably make the family worried. "If you don't have legs, how will you live in the future? We are distressed and want to give him more love. Qi Yongkai's mother, Chen Shuqing, said.
Grandpa gave Qi Yongkai a nickname "Tiantian", which is homophonic to "Tiantian". The old man hopes that he will be sweet and healthy all his life, and even more expects him to be a man who stands up to the sky.
On September 5, Qi Yongkai was in the game. (Photo by reporter Lian Yi)
The disability of his legs has caused Qi Yongkai to encounter various difficulties in his growing stage, but what makes his family happy is that he has always been optimistic and self-reliant every day: he tried to do his own laundry at the age of five or six, and he did not need to be supervised to study, and he did not have emotional problems because of his leg disability.
Because of the long-term use of the upper limbs, Qi Yongkai's upper limbs are strong. After entering middle school, his specialty was discovered by physical education teacher Kuang Baoze and recommended to Lei Lei, a weightlifting coach at Tangshan Sports School.
"The first time we met, he changed from the car to the wheelchair, and his movements were very agile, and I liked it immediately." Lei Lei told reporters, "At that time, there were two steps in the weightlifting hall of the sports school, and I wanted to push him at first, but his father said don't care, and saw that he went up easily with his hands." I was pleasantly surprised, I had never seen a child like this. ”
After several years of systematic training, Qi Yongkai won the championship of Hebei Province, was recommended to the provincial team, and entered the national team in 2018.
On September 5, Qi Yongkai celebrated during the competition. (Photo by reporter Lian Yi)
At the Tokyo Paralympics, Qi Yongkai withstood the pressure and won the gold medal in the men's 59kg class. At the Hangzhou Asian Para Games, he topped the event with a score of 194 kg and set a new record. At the opening ceremony of the Paris Paralympics, Qi Yongkai appeared as the flag bearer of the Chinese sports delegation, showing the demeanor of Chinese disabled people.
"Seeing him appear in the World Series, it's really good, I'm happy for him!" Lei Lei said.
Because of the preparation for the Paris Paralympics, Qi Yongkai has been away from home for nearly 5 months, and his mother Chen Shuqing is full of thoughts: "After the flagbearer of the opening ceremony was decided, he sent the official announcement video as soon as possible, and we are really proud that he can represent Chinese disabled athletes at the forefront and carry the national flag." I miss him very much, but I know that he is very busy, and I don't dare to always call him a video. This Paralympic medal is a huge affirmation for him, and I hope he can adjust his mentality and strive to compete for his country again. ”
For her 76-year-old grandmother, Qi Yongkai is a grandson who makes her "rarely worry about it". "It's not easy every day, you can manage yourself since you were a child, and it's good to get a medal this time. The important thing is to adjust yourself and keep working hard to achieve better results. ”
Source: Xinhua News Agency
Editor: Chen Jianli (intern)