Inspiring story Of China’s ‘Basketball Girl – Qian Hongyan
Qian Hongyan suffered horrific injuries in a car crash when she was
three years old in 2000 and doctors had to amputate her legs to ensure
her survival.
Hongyan’s family in Zhuangxia, China wasn’t wealthy
enough to provide her with hi-tech equipment to help her walk, so they
gave her half a basketball to help her move. Hongyan used brushes as
low-level crutches. The handicapped Chinese girl Qian Hongyan used to
crawl with two home-made props and part of a basketball at Zhuangxia
Village in Luliang County of Qujing City, Yunnan Province, China She was
able to travel to and from home and school by bouncing on the
basketball. She struggled for five years like this.
These pictures, taken in 2005 when Qian was just ten,
show how. Qian learned to walk on her hands, using a basketball cut in
half to steady herself. According to Xinhua news agency, she was dubbed
“basketball girl” by locals
The girl’s story was widely reported in the media and
experts from China Rehabilitation Research Center decided to help her
for rehabilitative treatment during early 2005.Qian now has a pair of
proper prosthetic legs, but still says she likes to use the basketball
from time to time as it is easier for her to get in and out of the pool
with.
When the seventh national special sports-meeting was
held in Kunming in May 2007, Qian Hongyan went to watch the games every
day and seeing the handicapped players struggle in the matches deeply
moved her.
Qian Hongyan was naturally worried about floating
when she tried swimming for the first time. But Qian Hongyan was
determined to join in the special swimming club. She and her parents
went to consult the opportunity with Zhang Honghu, a well known coach
who has trained many handicapped swimming champions. Then, QianHongyan
began her life in the swimming club and did professional swimming
training.
At first, Zhang didn’t pay much attention to Qian
Hongyan. “The individual’s capability is important in choosing a
player,” he said. “Qian Hongyan doesn’t have legs. It seems that if a
ship has no helm, then the ship could not work well for lack of a sense
of direction.” In order to solve the problem, Zhang made a special
training plan for Qian Hongyan to help balance the shoulders.She always
does the exercises and sit-ups, dumbbells and so on carefully. Qian
Hongyan swims for about 2000 metres in a day.
“I
had to give much more than other kids when I learned to swim,” Qian
said. “It seemed there was no way I could float in the water. I was
choked.” It took her several weeks to get used to the water, but once
she did Qian discovered she has a real talent for swimming. “It’s so
free and relaxing to swim,”"You can go anywhere you want and it is much
freer than on the ground.” she said.
“Qian Hongyan studies hard. She never grouches in
training although she was confronted with many difficulties at the
beginning, ” her coach said. After a short period, to Zhang’s surprise,
he found that Hongyan was gifted in swimming. Zhang said, “I couldn’t
ensure she would be a world champion. However, I can tell that she is
definitely a promising swimmer. Our biggest wish is to train her to have
a positive attitude to life.” Qian Hongyan’s dream is to become a world
champion. She works hard to achieve her dream.
Now 18 years old, she returned to the China Rehabilitation Centre in Beijing for her adult prosthetics.
She
touched the hearts of millions of people around the world and is fondly
referred to as the ” Basketball Girl”. Qian Hongyan though differently
abled has big dreams. The accident may have robbed her of her legs but
certainly not her spirit. She has plenty of courage and determination
and is indeed a great inspiration to all the differently abled people
around the globe. Watch this video to know about her inspiring success
story.
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