Carrying the flame of inspiration

Excited, proud, and even a little emotional. I experienced a rush of different feelings when I passed the flame of the 4th Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang province, on Saturday as one of the 600 torchbearers.

As a China Daily sports journalist, it was my first time participating in any Para Games as a torchbearer. The moment when I was informed that I had been recommended for the honor, I asked myself one simple question: What will I pass, symbolically, through the flame?

Recording videos or writing stories about para athletes never ceases to inspire me and ultimately helps me to become a better reporter. More importantly, it helps me to be a better person, giving me a better understanding of life and the power of sports.

Although the 600 torchbearers hail from different backgrounds — including star Paralympic medalists, coaches and outstanding representatives of various fields — we all have something in common: Our deep respect for the para sports movement and the spirit in which these sports are contested.

The flame that I carried was passed on by the first torchbearer of the relay, powerlifting Paralympic and world champion Tan Yujiao. The Rio and Tokyo Paralympic gold medalist is particularly proud to attend the Asian Para Games at home, both as a torchbearer and an athlete.

"My heart is just like the flame right now, as I'm deeply proud to compete at home and to become the first torchbearer of the Asian Para Games," said Tan on Thursday.

"I was a kid with disabilities who could not even attend our school's PE classes, and now I'm a para athlete who is aiming at breaking my own world record. Life presents me with the toughest tests, and I have lived my life in the most beautiful way," Tan, who has posted an astonishing 19 world records, added.

Beautiful is also how I would describe the torch we carried. Called "Laurels", the 756-millimeter torch is yellow and purple, and its design was inspired by ancient Chinese jadeware and osmanthus, the city flower of Hangzhou.

The torch had a magic that always drew my eyes to it, and my mind always returned to the question I raised earlier: What did we actually pass on with the flame of the Asian Para Games?

I think my fellow torchbearer Tan summed it up better than I could: "What I hope to pass on is the spirit of the para athletes that enables them to fight against all odds to win and pursue excellence. I also want to pass on their positive energy, their confidence and strength."