"Sailing has changed me, making me stronger and more confident," China's wheelchair-bound sailor Li Ke told China Daily in a recent interview.

Li and his teammates managed eighth place in the Sonar class during the 2008 International Association for Disabled Sailing (IFDS) Qingdao International Regatta that just ended yesterday.

Chinese sailors in race

"It is not easy for them to get this result only after two years of training," said Su Li, head of the Chinese disabled sailing team.

After five days of competing with the world's top sailors, the 34-year-old Li realized his own shortcomings.

"Compared with them, we lack competition experience. We should do more training setting sail and judging winds and currents," Li noted.

Sailing was totally alien to Li before he began training in 2005. His only link to the sport, his future career, was that he is a good swimmer - if that can be counted.

His love of swimming helped him become an advanced swimmer in 2001 though he is disabled. He later turned to wheelchair racing and won a silver medal in an international marathon held in Dalian in 2002.

Sailing, however, "is not easy at the beginning", he said. "I had learnt much about sailing, like how to sail with wind and current."

Through the effort, he gradually began to enjoy the new sport. Due to his outstanding performance, he was selected to be a Sonar keelboat skipper.

In addition to gaining sailing expertise, Li has another task - writing Chinese characters for two hours every day.

His coach Su said it helps develop concentration.

Now Li is eager to qualify for the 2008 Paralympic Sailing Competition to be held in Qingdao in September. "I will work harder to realize that goal."

The luckiest thing for him in 2008 is to participate in the Qingdao leg of the Olympic torch relay as a torch bearer in July, he said.

"I couldn't believe my ears when I heard the news. I have never thought I could be so lucky to be chosen as an Olympic torch bearer."

"I am really looking forward to the torch relay and wish it success," he added.

(China Daily May 16, 2008)