Guiyang badminton champ grabs gold at Paris Paralympics

Athlete Cheng Hefang – from Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province – triumphed on Sept 2 to win the women's singles SL4 category championship in the badminton competition of the Paris Paralympics, according to the Guizhou Disabled Persons' Federation.

Cheng proudly poses for a photo with her gold medal on the podium. [Photo/Guiyang Evening News]

In the final, Cheng defeated her opponent from Indonesia 2-0 to claim the title. This marks the 38th gold medal for the Chinese delegation at this Paralympic Games.

Born in 1995 in a small mountain village of Liupanshui city, in Guizhou province, Cheng currently works at the Wudang district branch of the Guiyang culture and tourism bureau in Guiyang.

Previously, she achieved a Grand Slam in women's single para badminton at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

At the age of one, Cheng was diagnosed with congenital hip dislocation in her left leg. Due to financial difficulties, her family failed to seek timely medical treatment for her, leading to muscle atrophy in her left leg, making it difficult for her to walk normally.

From a young age, Cheng began training with basic walking, jogging and high jumping. She developed a love for badminton and played with her classmates during breaks.

In 2009, Cheng was selected to join the Guizhou Provincial Disabled Persons' Badminton Team and was sent to the Wudang District Badminton Training Center in Guiyang for intensive training, marking the start of her badminton career.

In 2013, she won the women's singles championship at the National Disabled Persons' Badminton Championship and was selected for the Chinese National Para-Badminton Team. Since then, she has stepped onto the international stage.