Third time's a charm: after two silvers Chen Fengqing is ready to claim Paralympic gold at Rio 2016
After narrowly missing out on gold at the two previous Paralympic Games, Chinese goalball star believes Rio 2016 will be her time
China's women's goalball team won silver at London 2012 and want to go one better in Rio (Photo: Getty Images/Dennis Grombkowsky)
Chinese goalball player Chen Fengqing believes that after two silver medals, Rio 2016 will be the time for her to claim her long-awaited gold.
Chen was part of the two China women's teams that narrowly missed out on a Paralympic title by just a one-goal margin at both Beijing 2008, where they lost 6-5 to the USA, and London 2012, losing 1-0 to Japan.
“I played both at Beijing and London, where the team won silver, but many things have changed since,” she told the International Paralympic Committee. “I gave birth to a child after London, which helped me become mentally stronger and more mature. My experiences on and off the court add up.”
Chen, who had a congenital disease that caused her blindness, started playing goalball in 2003. A year later she joined her provincial team which she ended up leading to a bronze medal at the National Games.
"At those National Games, I was voted both best defender and best scorer,” she recalled. “Soon after, I started playing for the national team.”
Going into Rio 2016, the goalball competition on the international stage is fierce and Chen is well aware of the challenge that lies ahead of current world no.1 team China. The team qualified for the Games after finishing second at the Seoul 2015 IBSA World Games. They went on to claim silver again a few months later at the 2015 IBSA Goalball Asia-Pacific Championship in Hangzhou, China.
China will be out for revenge against defending Olympic champions Japan, who beat them in a tight match ending 1-0 in the London 2012 final (Photo: Getty Images/Dennis Grombkowsky)
Apart from reigning Paralympic gold medallists Japan, current world champions USA and European champions Turkey will be the other two strong contenders for gold at Rio 2016.
“All the teams that made it to Rio are strong teams, and none of them can be taken lightly,” said Chen. “But every athlete’s biggest opponent is always oneself.
“We have to remain confident and humble, and be serious and patient in every match. I am very much looking forward to the final match!”
