Published on : 10/09/2024
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games (August 28 to September 8) have just concluded, and the Hong Kong delegation achieved remarkable success this year, winning a total of 8 medals: 3 gold, 4 silver, and 1 bronze.
Wheelchair badminton player Daniel Chan Ho Yuen (陳浩源), known as the "World's Second Brother", aimed to convert his bronze medal from the previous Tokyo Paralympics into a different colour in what would be his final Paralympic Games before retirement.
He succeeded in his quest, earning a silver medal this time, which feels fulfilling for him.
Chan Ho Yuen survived a car accident by undergoing amputation
In 2008, Daniel was involved a car accident in the Mainland and got in a coma. When he woke up two or three days later, he was in the intensive care unit at Prince of Wales Hospital in Shatin, with numerous tubes inserted into his body.
Doctors told him that he had lost his left leg. He underwent over a dozen major and minor surgeries to clean his wounds and graft skin. Although his injuries were severe, he survived.
In that year, Daniel was only 23 years old. He experienced a drastic change in his life and felt lost for a while about his future. It was not until he returned to the familiar badminton court that he rediscovered his self-worth, starting afresh with a badminton racket in hand.
Since childhood, Daniel was an enthusiast of badminton, starting from primary school and continuing through high school. He even represented his school and won numerous awards.
Even after entering the workforce, he continued to enjoy playing badminton. After the car accident, he fitted a prosthesis, but his confidence was severely shaken.
Encouraged by disabled athletes he knew and his family members, he picked up the badminton racket again and tried to play in a wheelchair.
Read more: Yu Tsui Yee(余翠怡) won 11 medals in 4 Paralympics Game
Chan Ho Yuen became the first wheelchair badminton athlete
His potential in badminton caught the attention of his coach, leading him to join the Hong Kong team for training.
In 2010, Chan Ho Yuen became Hong Kong's first wheelchair badminton athlete. The sport helped him regain his confidence and changed his life.
Before the accident, impetuous Chan Ho Yuen used to move swiftly on the court, but couldn't bear enduring patience. After the accident, he had to play in a wheelchair, which cultivated patience in him.
After three or four years of adapting to his new partner, the wheelchair, he finally achieved "oneness with the chair", playing more freely.
As the first wheelchair badminton player, Chan Ho Yuen had to overcome unique challenges, such as the lack of opponents to practice with and no one to share learning experiences.
He had to rely on himself, studying online and watching opponents' techniques. "I feel very lonely. No one understood me, and there were no teammates who could relate to the struggles I faced during practice."
Chan Ho Yuen transformed loneliness into motivation
Since 2010, Chan Ho Yuen has become Hong Kong's first wheelchair badminton athlete, winning over 60 medals to date, and he has been awarded Hong Kong Outstanding Athlete twice.
He transformed his feelings of loneliness into a driving force, motivating himself to win over 60 medals in 11 years. He earned silver medals at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Para Games and the 2019 World Championships, reaching a world ranking as high as No.2.
He once thought that losing a leg due to a car accident would limit his life. However, after the accident, Chan Ho Yuen embarked on a more exciting second life.
"Sometimes I think I made the right accident. I don't know if life has become better or worse, but it's definitely more exciting."
Read more: So Wa Wai has broken the world record five times in the Paralympics
"Dare to chase your dreams, anything can come true." This is Chan Ho Yuen's motto, and he encourages everyone not to think that dreams are out of reach. When he first became a wheelchair badminton athlete, he aimed to be among the world's top five. Despite the cynicism of many, he has consistently held the position of "World No.2" in wheelchair badminton.
Chan Ho Yuen won silver medal at Paris Paralympic Games
At the last Tokyo Paralympics, badminton was included as a competition for the first time. Chan Ho Yuen bravely won a bronze medal in men's singles WH2.
Now, at the age of 39, Chan is competing in the Paralympics for the second time, but he has already said that this will be his last competition. He hopes to fight with all his might and wants to "change the colour of the medal", implying that he is striving for gold or silver medals.
Chan Ho Yuen first advanced to the semi-finals by winning both of his group matches. In the semi-finals, he defeated South Korean newcomer Yoo Soo Young(于秀榮) to secure a spot in the final. In the championship match, "World No. 2" Chan faced Japan's "World No. 1" Kajiwara Daiki (梶原大暉) in a fierce battle.
Although Chan Ho Yuen ultimately lost, he surpassed his previous performance at the Tokyo Paralympics by winning a silver medal. Despite competing with numerous injuries, he was proud to achieve his goal of "changing the colour" of his medal.
At the same time, Chan served as the flag bearer for the Hong Kong team during both the opening and closing ceremonies of the Paris Paralympic Games. He described this experience as a significant highlight of his athletic career and felt deeply moved.
He expressed that all athletes participating in the Paralympics have given their utmost effort to complete their events, providing the public with thrilling competitions and wonderful memories.