94 Taiwanese players competing in the Asian Para Games

94 Taiwanese players competing in the Asian Para Games

2023-09-28

The Asian Para Games is a multi-sport event that is held every four years for athletes with physical disabilities. This year, a total of 94 Taiwanese athletes will participate in 14 sports categories. FTV reporter Stephany Yang met some of the athletes before the games to see how they are preparing.

The Asian Para Games will kick off on Oct. 22 and last until Oct. 28. Ninety-four Taiwanese players will participate in 14 sports categories including track and field, swimming, judo, taekwondo, archery, bodybuilding, table tennis, badminton, wheelchair tennis, and more.

One wheelchair player representing Taiwan is Huang Chu-yin. She is Taiwan’s first professional wheelchair tennis player. After a car accident, she was paralyzed and could not even hold a racket. After rehabilitation, she continued to play tennis. She competes against male players and is actively training to qualify for the 2024 Summer Paralympics.

Huang Chu-yin
Wheelchair tennis player
I am currently working very hard with my coach to make adjustments and formulate some new strategies. Then, add some techniques and dynamic skills. My goal for myself is to see if I can enter the semi-finals or bronze in singles.

One player representing Taiwan in badminton is Fang Zhen-yu. He has a nerve plexus injury in his left shoulder due to dystocia at birth, resulting in muscle atrophy in his left upper limb. He finished fourth in the Tokyo Para Games. He is currently setting his sights on the 2024 Paris Summer Paralympics, hoping to qualify to represent Taiwan again.

Fang Zhen-yu
Badminton player
I competed in more tournaments this year and accumulated more experience. I traveled abroad to compete and gain points before the Asian Para Games, and the competition was quite intense. I have yet to win a medal in a major competition. I finished fourth in Tokyo. I hope I can do it this time. The goal is to win gold and win one game at a time.

Since Taiwan started participating in the Asian Para Games in 2010, it has achieved an impressive track record, winning 14 gold medals, 26 silver medals, and 49 bronze medals. The Asian Para Games which is regulated by the Asian Paralympic Committee was suspended in 2022 due to the pandemic. The players have made adequate preparations and look forward to winning gold.

Mu Min-chu
Chinese Taipei Paralympic Committee
This is the first time we have such a large group in disability sports. We are participating in 14 sports competitions. We have a strong team. We are looking forward to winning medals in sports like table tennis, where both men and women are very strong. Then there is badminton, which also has the potential to win gold medals. In addition, our track and field, swimming, wheelchair fencing, archery, and wheelchair tennis are also excellent. We are looking forward to returning home with medals.

The number of athletes representing Taiwan in this year’s Asian Para Games has reached a new high. The Asian Para Games 2023 will kick off in Hangzhou on Oct. 22.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

杭州亞帕運10月22日開幕 94名台灣選手力拚佳績

2023-09-28

每四年一次的亞洲帕拉運動會是為身障者舉辦的綜合性體育賽事。今年台灣共有94名選手參與14種競賽種類。一起來看看他們準備的狀況!

亞帕運會將於10月22日開幕，持續至10月28日。今年共有94名選手參與田徑、游泳、柔道、跆拳道、射箭、健力、桌球、羽球、輪椅網球等14種競賽種類。

代表台灣的輪椅選手之一是黃楚茵。她是台灣第一位職業輪椅網球選手。一場車禍後，她全身癱瘓，連球拍都拿不住。康復後，她繼續打網球。她與男選手相互競爭，且積極訓練，爭取2024年夏季帕拉林匹克運動會的參賽資格。

[[輪椅網球選手黃楚茵]]
"目前就是很努力的在跟教練這邊努力的做調整，擬定一些新的戰略，然後增加一些技術以及異動部分的技巧，我對自己的期許是希望看能不能在單打的部分進入四強或是銅牌"

代表台灣參加羽球比賽的選手之一，方振宇。方振宇出生時由於難產，導致左手肩膀神經叢損傷，左側上肢肌肉萎縮。他在東京帕運男子單人羽球獲得第四名。他目前把目標投向2024年夏季帕拉林匹克運動會，希望能再次代表台灣參賽。

[[羽球方振宇]]
"今年比賽得比較多，在經驗的方面成長比較多，亞帕運前也要出國拿積分，比賽比較密集，我還沒有在大比賽中奪牌過，東京拿到第四名，希望這次可以奪牌為目標，平常心，一場一場贏"

台灣自2010年參與第一屆亞帕運以來，創下了獲得14面亞帕運金牌、26面亞帕運銀牌與49面銅牌的亮眼成績。2022年因疫情停辦，選手們有更多時間做足準備並期待為國爭光。

[[中華帕拉林匹克總會會長穆閩珠]]
“這是我們身障運動首次這麼大的團體，總共參加了14項的運動比賽，我們比較強的，期待得獎牌的就是類似桌球，男生女生都很強，然後就是羽球，也很有奪金的潛力選手，另外，我們的田徑、游泳還有輪椅擊劍，還有射箭、射擊，輪椅網球也不錯，我們很期待這次可以滿載而歸"

本屆參加亞帕運的台灣選手人數創下新高紀錄。2023年亞洲帕拉運動會將於10月22日在杭州盛大舉行。

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The christening ceremony drew international attention. Some 80 journalists were at the scene, with several foreign media outlets covering the launch. As Taiwan presses on its quest for defense autonomy, the global community is looking on.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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Taiwan and India are in talks to sign a deal on labor importation. Amid its severe worker shortage, Taiwan aims to hire Indian workers in several sectors, primarily from northeast India. According to Indian media, an agreement could be signed as early as next month. Taiwan officials confirm that discussions with India are underway.

Taiwan faces a severe labor shortage in sectors including construction, manufacturing and services. To resolve the issue, the Ministry of Labor is trying to bring in more workers from abroad. Since taking office in mid-September, India’s representative to Taiwan has met with labor minister Hsu Ming-chun and Premier Chen Chien-jen, to discuss collaboration on labor.

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to discuss the matter closely with the Ministry of Labor and Indian authorities. We will make an announcement at the appropriate time.

The labor and foreign ministries say talks on a labor agreement are underway, with more details to be announced.

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Yulon Motor Chairperson Yen Chen Li-lien pulls up in her company’s latest electric car, wearing a black cape blazer over a red blouse. The occasion is the grand opening of Yes!Life, the automaker’s department store.

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Yen Chen Li-lien
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Tears fill her eyes as she thinks of her company’s history. Also at the event were Yen Chen’s son and daughter, along with Pegatron Chairperson Tung Tzu-hsien, Eslite Chairperson Mercy Wu, and VieShow Cinemas Chairperson Charles Wang.

It’s all smiles onstage. Residents say they are excited about the new shopping venue. Before Yes!Life opened, Kingstone had been the only major book shop in the district, and residents had to go to Taipei’s Gongguan to watch a movie. Now, Xindian is home to a VieShow IMAX theater and the largest Eslite Spectrum outlet in Asia.

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The department store has opened just in time for the Mid-Autumn Festival long weekend. It aims to make more than NT$4 billion every year, and offer a new shopping experience to 700,000 local residents.

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This is Sam Altman’s third visit to Taiwan. Speaking at an AI forum in Taipei, he said that despite public doubts about AI, he is optimistic about the future of OpenAI. He sees great potential in employing OpenAI in the fields of education and health care.

Sam Altman
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Our upcoming opponents had some close calls in their matches this past week, but thanks to their resilience, they managed to pull through at the critical moments and win. I think that is a huge strong point for them, an advantage they have. When we go up against them in the upcoming final, we have to pay especially close attention to that.

Over in the men’s doubles semis, Hsu Yu-hsiou and Jason Jung staged a dramatic comeback against Thailand in the third set, earning a spot in the final.

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I really want to win gold. My initial goal was to at least get a medal. And somehow I made it to the men’s doubles final and have a chance at gold. I hope that tomorrow, I’ll be able to maintain the good form of these past few days, do well, and win that gold medal.

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We’ll keep up our hard work. We really want to win. But we shouldn’t set our expectations too high. We can just take our time and have fun.

In previous Asian Games, Taiwan’s best result in men’s doubles was a bronze medal. By making it to the final, Hsu and Jung have already made history.

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Children perform bunny rabbits hopping across the stage to open the press conference. The Nantou Global Tea Expo kicks off on Oct. 7 in Zhongxing New Village.

The nine-day expo features 28 special halls and exhibition sales zones. Visitors will be able to taste the best tea, purchase the best tea, and of course sample leaves from Taiwan, as well as all over the globe. Organizers have built an international tea pavilion to promote multicultural exchange.

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There will be a “Thousand Seat Tea Banquet” this year, with tea leaves incorporated into sumptuous dishes.

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Lots of Nantou tea leaves are actually made into different types of cuisine. It’s not just about drinking tea – they can also be incorporated into food in many places. We recommend the “Thousand Seat Tea Banquet,” because it’s themed on tea, and there will be 13 dishes, each with the flavor of a different township. And our twist this time is how to perfectly marry that with tea.

About 55% of the total land used for growing tea in Taiwan is in Nantou County. The significant economic profits of the industry are huge for the county, and the expo will be a big draw for tea lovers on National Day weekend.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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