Yue Qingshuang, head coach of China's wheelchair curling team, said that the players are a bit nervous and the whole team needs encouragement after China lost 7-3 to Canada in the first session of wheelchair curling event on Saturday at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games.

"The players were a little bit nervous about playing at home and did not play at their normal level, but we need to give more encouragement for this defending-champion team," said Yue.

"We still have to fight game by game, I think there is no problem for us and I will try my best to reduce their pressure," Yue added.

Yue, 37, won the gold medal at the 2009 Curling World Championships and third place at the Vancouver Winter Olympics as a member of the Chinese Women's curling team.

From athlete to coach, Yue has had a successful career transformation.

Leading by Yue, since 2017, the Chinese wheelchair curling team has won several world championships, especially claiming China's first-ever Winter Paralympic gold medal at PyeongChang 2018.

After coaching disabled athletes for years, Yue said she has already been deeply moved by their fighting spirit.

"To prepare for the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics, every morning they train for three to four hours, and they need to prepare for that for even more than an hour," she said.

Yue expressed that she believes all the coaches of para-athletes really hope to exert the athletes' energy and potential and help more disabled people realize their dreams through sports.

For Yue, taking the oath on the night of the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Paralympics was memorable.

"To be able to take the oath on behalf of coaches and officials is a very exciting and enjoyable experience," said Yue.

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