On Tuesday, China's wheelchair racing team begins its first adaptive training session ahead of the fifth Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan. [Photo by Zhao Yimeng/chinadaily.com.cn]
China's wheelchair racing team began its first adaptive training session ahead of the fifth Asian Para Games, testing equipment and adjusting racing strategies to suit the local track.
Athletes took to the track on Tuesday, making adjustments to their custom-built racing wheelchairs after testing the surface and negotiating the tighter bends at the venue.
"The shape of each track is different, so we need to adjust the wheelchair to suit the curves," said Zhou Hongzhuan, who is competing in her fifth Asian Para Games and a gold medalist for Para Games.
On Tuesday, China's wheelchair racing team begins its first adaptive training session ahead of the fifth Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan. [Photo by Zhao Yimeng/chinadaily.com.cn]
Liu Chengming, the team's coach, said the wheelchairs and equipment are tailored to each athlete's physique and technical needs, down to details such as individually fitted gloves.
Wheelchair racers can reach speeds of about 40 kilometers per hour on the track, so safety precautions, including helmets and closed training venues, are essential, Liu said.
Athletes from various Asian countries have also begun familiarizing themselves with the competition venues as preparations for the Games ramp up. The event will run from Oct 18 to 24 in Nagoya, Aichi prefecture, Japan.
On Tuesday, China's wheelchair racing team begins its first adaptive training session ahead of the fifth Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan. [Photo by Zhao Yimeng/chinadaily.com.cn]
Chinese wheelchair racer Zhou Hongzhuan adjusts her racing wheelchair to suit the conditions at the venue in Nagoya. [Photo by Zhao Yimeng/chinadaily.com.cn]
International wheelchair racers train at Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya on Tuesday. [Photo by Zhao Yimeng/chinadaily.com.cn]