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For the love of the game

November 06, 2016

Loving inspiration

Loving inspiration:  Paralympic medallist Leung Yuk-wing says the unwavering support of girlfriend Sze Shan-shan drives him to win.

Hong Kong won six medals at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

 

Boccia champion Leung Yuk-wing won his second Paralympic gold medal after a 12-year dry spell.

 

The sport has changed his life and he even found love through the game.

 

Going for gold

"It was really tough. In the past four years I put in so much time and energy training. This gold medal proved my efforts were worthwhile."

 

Leung's first overseas competition was the Athens 2004 Paralympics, where he won his first gold medal.

 

While the medal brought him glory, it also brought plenty of pressure.

 

He won a silver medal at the next Paralympics in Beijing but left the London 2012 event empty-handed.

 

It seemed, after hitting his peak, he was struggling to return to the top.

 

"I could not see any changes even though I trained very hard. I was about to give up, but I did not because I love the game. I love boccia."

 

Overcoming obstacles

Thirty-one-year-old Leung was born with arthrogryposis, a condition that involves congenital joint contractures.

 

He started playing boccia in 2003. In the game, the player throws leather balls as close as possible to a white target ball called the jack.

 

"You need to be calm and strategic. It is like playing chess. You need to guess what your opponent will do next. I love the game because I can play with anyone, whether or not they are in a wheelchair. It is challenging."

 

He used to be quiet, shy and never talked to strangers. That changed when he started playing boccia, which has given him the confidence to strike up conversations.

 

Loving support

Sze Shan-shan is a part-time assistant coach in the team and she is Leung’s girlfriend.

 

"He asked me to be a volunteer and help the athletes. This is how our relationship started. He is humorous and persistent. He is charming when he is playing boccia," she said.

 

Leung said she is his source of power and motivation. Sometimes she helps to fix the balls they use in the game and she inspired him to win gold in Rio.

 

"She helped take care of me in Rio. Having her as my caregiver really makes me feel better. In some matches where she could not go with me, I did not do as well. This time I had a better performance because I knew she was watching and supporting me."

 

Leung hopes to compete in more Paralympic Games and perform better in doubles matches.

 

He says his drive comes from a vow he made to his girlfriend and biggest cheerleader, to do his best and win a medal at every match.

 

Admirable achievement

Twenty-four Hong Kong athletes competed in the Rio Paralympics in September, in archery, athletics, boccia, shooting, swimming, table tennis, wheelchair-fencing and equestrian events.

 

They won two gold, two silver and two bronze medals in swimming, boccia, wheelchair-fencing and table tennis.

 

A sterling effort.



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