Team China's wheelchair curlers practice at the newly built National Ice Sports Arena for People with Impairments in Beijing's Shunyi district. (PHOTO / CHINA DAILY)

A banner draped across a wall of their training center says a lot about just how seriously Team China's wheelchair curlers are approaching the defense of their Winter Paralympic title－"Champion in Pyeongchang is history, restart from zero in Beijing."

Team China's wheelchair curling team currently consists of 12 athletes, but only five will be selected to compete at the 2022 Games

And this dedicated bunch is acutely aware that the stakes will be even higher at Beijing 2022 than they were in South Korea three years ago.

"Our team is under pressure to excel at the Games because as the host we will be in the spotlight both at home and abroad," said head coach Yue Qingshuang, a former world champion in the sport's able-bodied version.

"As the gold-medal winner at the previous Winter Paralympics, we have become a target for other teams, who will be analyzing us and watching videos of us in action," she added.

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Three years ago in Pyeongchang, Yue's team made history by winning China's first Winter Paralympics gold medal, beating Norway 6-5 in a nerve-jangling final.

With the Beijing Games set to open on March 4 next year, preparations for China's title defense are going into overdrive at the squad's base in the capital, the National Ice Sports Arena for People with Impairments.

Practicing on the ice with stones that weigh nearly 20 kilograms for up to six hours a day, six days a week, inevitably takes a toll on the curlers, with their wrists, shoulders and lower back particularly susceptible to aches and pains.

Strengthening their upper bodies in the gym and undergoing various physical therapies are, therefore, vital to keeping them in peak condition.

"Doctors treat us regularly with acupuncture, diathermy, massage and physical rehabilitation, but that can't stop us from getting further injuries. However, that's the pain that all athletes, either para or ordinary ones, must endure," said 31-year-old team captain Wang Haitao.

"We train to achieve stability of technique and mentality," added team member, Zhang Mingliang, who hails from Handan, Hebei province.

Team China's wheelchair curlers practice up to six hours a day, six days a week, with building upper-body strength a key factor in athletes' chances of success on the ice. (PHOTO / CHINA DAILY)

Center of excellence

Construction of the National Ice Sports Arena for People with Impairments was completed in Beijing's northeastern Shunyi district in December. Previously the curlers needed to share venues with other teams such as figure skating, an arrangement which limited their training hours.

The state-of-the-art venue features three sections－a wheelchair curling rink, a para ice hockey rink and an apartment complex used for accommodation, rehabilitation and research.

At the 2022 Winter Paralympics, athletes will compete in 78 events across six sports－alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, para ice hockey (aka sledge hockey) and wheelchair curling.

"Now our venue meets international standards and is equipped with the best ice makers," Yue said.

The facility has been designed specifically to cater to people with disabilities. Elevator buttons are at foot level, for example, while restrooms offer similar ease of use. Motion-sensor doors open automatically and the corners of walls are arced to prevent bumps and bruises.

Canteens offer a wide selection of nutritious food, including pork ribs, lamb chops, fruit, vegetables and noodles with soybean paste.

'Sense of achievement'

Team China's wheelchair curling team currently consists of 12 athletes, but only five will be selected to compete at the 2022 Games. With an average age of around 30, most of the curlers come from the provinces of Heilongjiang and Hebei, and Beijing.

Captain Wang was born into a family of corn farmers in Yilan county, Heilongjiang. After being diagnosed with acute myelitis when he was 9, he lost the ability to walk.

Having been inspired by the feats of para athletes on TV, he took up curling and joined the national team in 2008.He credits the sport with having a transformational effect on his confidence.

From left: Wang Haitao, Chen Jianxin, Liu Wei and Wang Meng celebrate with their gold medals and the Chinese national flag after defeating Norway in the wheelchair curling gold-medal match at the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Gangneung, South Korea. Expectations are high that the team can repeat the feat at the 2022 Beijing Paralympic Games, which will begin in March next year. (PHOTO / AP)

"I used to feel embarrassed when I would meet visitors to my parents' home, and would hide myself in my room. On the curling ice, I found a sense of achievement," he said.

Teammate Zhang, 33, has been on a similar journey. He contracted polio when he was 3 and soon couldn't walk independently. He joined the national squad in 2017 after quitting his home-appliance repair business in Beijing, and was a member of the team that won gold at the 2019 world championships in Scotland.

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"Since I started curling, I feel that I have a purpose, especially when I see China's national flag being raised in the stadium. Now, I just want to focus on improving my curling skills until I retire," he said.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team has been unable to compete or train overseas, but coach Yue is determined not to let that hamper her squad's preparations.

"By focusing on our training and giving our utmost, good results will follow," she said.