Shot putter Yao Juan shows off her gold medal at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou on Oct 25. [Photo/Wuxi Daily]
Athlete Yao Juan from Wuxi in East China's Jiangsu province clinched the first gold medal of the city in women's shot put F64 with a length of 11.4 meters at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Oct 25.
Born in 1984, Yao works at the Wuxi people with disabilities service center and is also a coach and athlete of the track and field team for people with disabilities in Jiangsu.
Yao is a torch bearer in the torch relay of the Hangzhou Asian Para Games. [Photo/Wuxi Daily]
Since her first participation in a Paralympic Games in Sydney 23 years ago, Yao has won five gold medals at six editions, making her a genuine grand slam winner of throwing events at Paralympic Games.
The 39-year-old is also a world-record holder of shot put, discus throw, and javelin throw. At the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, Yao secured the first gold for China in track and field events.
Yao celebrates her championship in women's shot put F64 in July. [Photo/Wuxi Daily]
Also, the track and field athlete has won an admission ticket in July to the Paris Paralympic Games next year, which will mark her seventh participation in the Paralympic Games.
Wuxi has sent three athletes and one coach for the ongoing Para Games, which is taking place in Hangzhou from Oct 22 to 28. The other two athletes are Tang Xuemei and Gong Bin, who are expected to perform well in sitting volleyball.