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Former Chinese basketball star Li Duan won the gold in the men's long jump F-11 in Asian Para Games in Guangzhou. He successfully defended his Paralympic title. But, Li Duan's path to glory started in a completely unexpected way.
The track and field scene in Guangzhou Asian Para Games reached its hottest point on Tuesday. Li Duan completed his sixth attempt, and etched his name in history books. Li called his son to tell him about winning the gold medal.
Li Duan won a slam dunk national youth championship when he was 17, and confidently looked forward to a basketball career. His dream was to become the Michael Jordan in China. But life can sometimes be cruel. An exploding fire extinguisher deprived Li of his eyesight in 1996. His basketball dream collapsed.
But as one door closed, another opened. With the help and encouragement of his family and coach, Li made it through his psychological nightmare and realized he could succeed in track and field.
Li named his son "Dream". It means something special, something shared only within his own heart.
But Li's son also has a dream, to have an Asian Para Games' mascot. So Li went to the athlete's village and bought one for his son.
And before he left, Li found a water bottle with a basketball logo. Li says his son is five years old, but is 1.2-meters tall, and he thinks that's surely suitable for playing basketball. Plus, Li says his son loves the game. So the father is trying to complete his son's dream now, and hopes his son will help him make his own dream come true in the near future.