Strength to strength

The national skills competition for disabled people, organized by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the China Disabled Persons' Federation, is held every four years.

This year's event — held from June 27 to 29 — attracted 950 contestants from 32 provincial delegations, 58 competitors more than the previous competition. The oldest contestant was 59 years old and the youngest 16.

About 51 percent of competitors are physically disabled, while 30 percent have hearing or language disabilities and 3 percent have visual impairment.

This year's competition featured nine new events including cybersecurity, 3D-printing technology, and nail beauty. Seven other events, including massage, were dropped.

"It is a turning point in my life and I'm very honored to get the opportunity to stand on the stage," said 20-year-old Pang Tianyu from Shandong, who came first in the 3D-printing technology event.

"It's a surprisingly good result," he said. "I thought taking a place in the top ten would be my best result because I faced very competitive rivals from other delegations."

When he was 9 years old, Pang's sciatic nerve was damaged during a botched medical procedure, which left him with a weak left leg and trouble walking.

"I never treat myself as a disabled person, and my peers and classmates never look down on me because of my disability," he said. "I'm now in my second year at the Shandong Industrial Technician College majoring in mechanics."

Pang said he had always had a strong interest in 3D-printing technology and began studying it in April last year.

"My college and the Shandong Disabled Persons' Federation gave me great support after I was selected as a contestant for the national event last July," he said.

He continued taking his regular classes till March, and trained for the competition at night. "I took leave from my classes from March to get fully prepared for the national competition," he said.

"My two coaches were with me from 7 am to 11 pm every day. When I got a sample test in April, I thought it would be very difficult to finish the event. But I repeated the same things and kept practicing. Two weeks before the competition started I was finally organized enough to compete."