Teen table tennis player Huang Zhirui wins silver at Asian Para Games

Huang Zhirui, a 17-year-old para table tennis player competing at her first Asian Para Games, won silver in the women's singles TT3 final in Toyota, Aichi prefecture, on Tuesday.

As the youngest member of Chinese sports delegation to the fifth Asian Para Games, Huang admitted she was "particularly nervous" and felt she had not played to her usual standard when facing the world's top-ranked player from South Korea in the final.

"There are more competitors here, and everyone is pretty good," she said, reflecting after the match on her first experience at the continental competition.

Despite her disappointment with her performance, reaching the final and claiming silver exceeded expectations, said her coach Yu Tao.

"When we came here, I didn't expect her to win a silver medal. She's already performed beyond expectations," Yu said.

Huang's nerves showed in her game through shaky hands, cold fingers and repeated service errors. "She didn't play as well as she does at home, but overall, her performance at this competition was still pretty good," Yu said.

Huang will now turn her attention to the doubles competition, where she said she would do her best to fight for gold.

Beyond refining her technique, Yu has also played a role closer to that of a parent, supporting Huang through the demands of elite competition and her daily life.

"She can't do without me. Wherever I go, she follows me around like a little shadow," Yu said with a smile.

Due to Huang's spinal cord injury, prolonged periods without access to a toilet can leave her vulnerable to urinary tract infections, which in severe cases can cause fevers and affect her performance.

Yu said she helps her with catheterization once or twice a day and reminds her to drink enough water, especially during the Games.

Huang's journey in table tennis began after a sudden accident changed her life. At the age of 5, she suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident while dancing, leaving her unable to stand or walk.

In an effort to aid her rehabilitation, her mother began exploring table tennis as a way to help her regain physical function.

When Huang was 8, her mother brought her to Yu, who was then coaching athletes with disabilities in Chongqing. The meeting marked the beginning of a partnership that has lasted nearly a decade.

Yu has since watched Huang progress from rehabilitation exercises to intensive technical training. Before the Asian Para Games, she also represented China at international competitions in countries including the United States, Spain and Thailand.