Guiyang athletes shine at provincial games

After three days of toughly fought competitive events, the seventh Guizhou Provincial Games for Persons with Disabilities concluded on Oct 15 in Liupanshui, a prefecture-level city in Southwest China's Guizhou province.

This edition of the games featured nine major sports – including athletics, swimming, badminton, table tennis, shooting, weightlifting, chess, darts and basketball, that were further divided into a total of 181 sub-events.

Fueled by the unwavering determination of all athletes, a total of 170 gold medals, 121 silver medals and 87 bronze medals were handed out.

Of these, the Guiyang delegation secured 36 gold, 29 silver and 12 bronze medals, leading it to receive the event's Sports Ethical Excellence Award.

A delighted Tang Maocheng, one of the triumphant athletes from the Guiyang delegation, gives the thumbs-up during the event. [Photo/Guiyang news network]

In particular, Tang Maocheng clinched first place in the men's F20 (intellectual disability) high jump event with a height of 1.46 meters on Oct 13 – becoming the first athlete from the Guiyang delegation to win a gold medal in the athletics event at this year's games.

Guiyang's Yao Yao competes fiercely. [Photo/Guiyang news network]

Veteran Yao Yao, a 32-year-old from Kaiyang county in Guiyang, secured first place in the women's T38 (cerebral palsy) 100-meter race. She has previously participated in three provincial games for persons with disabilities and emerged as the champion in all of them.

"This edition of the games has showcased the achievements in the development of sports for persons with disabilities across Guizhou province," said the head of the Guizhou Provincial Federation of Persons with Disabilities.

At the same time, all staff members and volunteers were said to provide impeccable services for athletes.

That fostered an atmosphere of understanding, respect, care and support for individuals with disabilities – emphasizing the flourishing development of sports across the province.

During the closing ceremony, the head of the federation announced that the next edition of the games would be held in 2026 in Qiannan Bouyei and Miao autonomous prefecture in Guizhou.