Hoops and dreams
Disadvantaged youths in China's northwest find their place on the sports field
With the sun high over the basketball court, Memettursunjan Erkin darted past his defender, pivoted and zipped a perfect bounce pass to a teammate. He clapped his hands, calling for a huddle.
Small in stature, he does not stand out at first glance — until one notices the gleaming prosthetic attached to his right leg.
"I just want to play like everyone else," the 12-year-old said. "When I'm on the court, I forget about my leg."
Born in 2013 in Shufu county, on the western edge of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Memettursunjan came into the world missing part of his right leg. His parents, farmers with limited schooling, were overwhelmed and unsure how to raise a child with a disability.
Memettursunjan grew up withdrawn, watching other children run and play from the window. "Walking with a prosthetic was hard. So I stayed home," he said.
Then, at six years old, he saw a video of NBA star Stephen Curry — not the tallest, not the strongest, but fearless and skillful. Something clicked.
