NAGOYA, Japan, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- China's Li Yujie added another title to her growing collection on Tuesday, rallying from a round down to defeat Iran's Zahra Rahimi 2-1 in the women's K44 57kg para taekwondo final at the 2026 Asian Para Games.
The victory capped a memorable Games for the 25-year-old, who had earlier carried China's national flag at the opening ceremony.
Li lost the opening round 4-0 but responded emphatically, winning the next two rounds 4-0 and 8-0 to secure the gold medal.
After the final, Li and her coach, Yu Jie, celebrated by carrying the Chinese flag around the arena before embracing.
"I'm proud to be Chinese and grateful to my country for this opportunity and recognition," Li said, reflecting on her role as flagbearer. "This year's Games have been especially fulfilling for me."
The victory marked another milestone in a career that has taken Li from a childhood accident to the top of international para taekwondo.
Born in 2001 in Zibo, Shandong Province, Li lost her right hand in a fireworks accident at the age of 10. She initially took up sprinting at school before being encouraged to switch to taekwondo after a talent scout noticed her explosive power at a provincial athletics competition in 2016.
The transition proved difficult. The loss of her hand affected her balance and coordination, and she frequently fell while attempting kicks. Determined to improve, Li supplemented her eight-hour daily training sessions with additional practice.
Her persistence paid off in 2019 when she won gold at the World Para Taekwondo Championships in Türkiye. She followed that with bronze at the Tokyo Paralympics, becoming China's first Paralympic medalist in the sport.
Three years later, Li made history again at Paris 2024, winning the women's K44 57kg title to secure China's first Paralympic taekwondo gold medal.
However, her rise was complicated by persistent leg injuries following Tokyo, which at one stage threatened to require surgery.
Working with Yu, Li adjusted her training program to reduce the physical strain while improving her technique and tactical awareness.
"I used to rely on charging forward with my kicks. Now I have a wider range of techniques and pay more attention to tactics," she said. "I've also become calmer and more open to others' advice."
Li credited her coach, national team support and able-bodied sparring partners for helping her develop into a more complete fighter.
With another gold medal secured, Li has already turned her attention to next month's World Para Taekwondo Championships in South Korea, although she is reluctant to look too far ahead.
"One step at a time, one day at a time," she said. ■
