China's 12th National Para Games conclude with record attendance, athletic achievements

China's 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games officially concluded on Monday evening, capping an inspirational eight-day event that set new records for participation and athletic achievements.

Held for the first time jointly by Guangdong Province, Hong Kong, and Macao in the Greater Bay Area, the Games featured 46 competitive events and attracted more than 11,000 participants from 34 delegations, marking the largest turnout in the event's history.

Athletes shattered 15 world records and set 156 new national records in disciplines such as athletics, swimming, shooting, weightlifting, and track cycling.

The Games showcased not only extraordinary athleticism, but also the indomitable spirit of disabled competitors who transcended physical limitations through sport.

The 21-year-old Hong Kong para table tennis player Wong Yue-ching, a student at the University of Hong Kong, competed with only one-third the grip strength of an able-bodied person in her right hand. Wong used a wrist strap to secure her racket. She finished sixth in the women's singles class 7 event and credited the sport for transforming her life.

"[Playing table tennis] has completely rewritten my life. I want to become a teacher. Perhaps one day, I can teach children at a special school and share my story with them, to show that as long as you keep searching, you will surely find your path in life," said Wong.

This edition of the Games significantly increased the numbers of both Special Olympic and mass participation events, allowing more people to enjoy the fun of sports.

From seamless event organization to the creation of a comprehensive, region-wide barrier-free environment, the Games has set a benchmark and delivered a replicable model for future para-sporting events in China and beyond.

"Drawing on their complementary strengths and working in close coordination, with synchronized planning and implementation, Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao have extended the concept of disability inclusion far beyond the competition venues into all aspects of daily life. This not only showcases the remarkable achievements and vibrant momentum of Chinese modernization, but also highlights a new chapter in the integrated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the advancement of the cause of the disabled," said Chang Zheng, deputy director of the Games' organizing committee.

China's 12th National Para Games conclude with record attendance, athletic achievements

The Shenzhou-21 crew members aboard China's orbiting Tiangong space station had recorded their preparations for the debris-hit Shenzhou-20 spaceship before its safe landing back on Earth on Jan. 19 after its extended stay in orbit.

The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) confirmed the return capsule touched down safely at the Dongfeng Landing Site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 09:34 local time on Jan. 19, bringing an end to the extraordinary mission.

The footage released by the CMSA on Sunday showed the three astronauts Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang conducting essential procedures aboard the space station.

During their final operations, the crew packed items including the decommissioned extravehicular spacesuit B, a number of large payloads from space application systems, and other materials designated for disposal or return to Earth.

Shenzhou-20, returning unmanned, has set a record for the largest volume of cargo ever carried back to Earth in a single mission. Throughout the transfer and fixation process, the astronauts paid close attention to mass distribution and balance to maintain the spacecraft's stability during its re-entry and descent to Earth. The crew also conducted detailed checks of the docking port and hatch seals, confirming that all sealing functions were intact and the hatch was secure.

Launched last April, Shenzhou-20's planned return was postponed in early November due to concerns over damage caused by a suspected space debris impact, after the CMSA said tiny cracks were found in the Shenzhou-20 return capsule's viewport window. An alternative spacecraft was later used to transport the three Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-20 mission safely back to Earth.

Despite sustaining damage, the capsule withstood temperatures of thousands of degrees Celsius during the re-entry process and successfully touched down on Earth. Initial on-site inspections by ground crew at the landing site confirmed the return capsule's overall appearance was normal and that the items returned inside were in good condition.

The Shenzhou-20 spacecraft spent a total of 270 days in orbit, validating its long-term docking capability, with engineers saying the follow-up work will also provide an important basis for China's space program to continually refine operating procedures.

Footage reveals preparations in space station for Shenzhou-20's return to Earth