NAGOYA, Japan, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- When para taekwondo athlete Li Yujie and para powerlifter Yan Panpan learned they had been chosen as flagbearers for China at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Asian Para Games in Nagoya on Sunday, they were thrilled but keenly aware of the responsibility that come with the honor.
"It feels like a big vote of confidence in me," Li said. "This time I'm not just representing myself, but the whole Chinese delegation. It's not just an honor, it's a responsibility."
Yan said he felt humbled by the appointment. "There are people on the delegation who have achieved more than I have," he said. "I still have room to improve."
Both athletes bring impressive resumes to Nagoya. Li won China's first-ever Paralympic taekwondo medal in Tokyo and went on to claim the country's first Paralympic taekwondo gold in Paris. She was named 2025 World Para Taekwondo Female Athlete of the Year, becoming the first Team China athlete to receive the honor.
Yan has established himself as a leading force in para powerlifting, winning gold at the World Cup, the Tokyo Paralympics, the World Championships, the Hangzhou Asian Para Games and the Paris Paralympics.
Serving as flagbearer, Yan said, brings both pressure and motivation; for Li, the role has given her a renewed sense of purpose.
"Before, when I stepped onto the mat, I was mostly focused on each round and each technique," she said. "But walking out as a flagbearer, I feel a mission. Beyond giving everything in competition, I want to show the confidence and positive spirit of athletes with disabilities."
Both athletes have ties to Beijing Sport University: Li is studying sports training there, and Yan is a recent graduate.
"I had a really fulfilling time at university," Yan said. "I didn't just learn from textbooks. I made a lot of friends, and group activities taught me how to work with others."
Those teamwork lessons could prove useful in Nagoya, where Yan will compete in the mixed-team powerlifting event, making its debut at the Asian Para Games.
"In the lead-up to the competition, I need to communicate more with my teammates and keep myself in top form for longer," he said.
He will also compete in an individual powerlifting event: "My goal is to show everything I've put into training and to remain calm. If I get a good result, that will be great."
"I want to show the self-confidence, independence, resilience and courage of athletes with disabilities," Yan added. "No matter who we face, we'll keep fighting and never give up. I hope people can see the power of perseverance and find the courage to chase their own dreams."
Li will compete in the women's K44-57kg para taekwondo category. "My goal is simply to fight every bout well and go all out for gold," she said. "I want to show that athletes with disabilities are not afraid of challenges, and that we, too, can compete on the big stage and enjoy it."
"I hope more people will see that sport has no boundaries," she added. "Whatever our physical condition, we can all gain confidence through sport. Through my own story, I want to encourage more people with disabilities to step out of their homes, take up exercise, and feel the power sport can bring." ■
