On October 15, the Guangdong organizing committee for the Special Olympics announced that the 2024 National Wheelchair Basketball Championship concluded on the 14th at the Quyang Sports Center in Qingyuan, Guangdong Province. In the five-a-side competitions, both the men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams from Guangdong triumphed over their opponents from Beijing, capturing the championship title. With this victory, the Guangdong team has achieved a clean sweep, winning titles in both three-on-three and five-on-five events for both men and women.

The two finals held that afternoon drew in over a thousand local fans, creating an electric atmosphere in the venue with cheers and excitement. Many spectators, experiencing wheelchair basketball for the first time, were thrilled by the exciting matches. In the women’s final, the Guangdong team, featuring several national team players, demonstrated their strength on both offense and defense, ultimately winning decisively with a score of 51-24.

During the subsequent men’s final, despite falling behind early, the Guangdong team remained competitive, exchanging leads with the Beijing team. They surged in the second half, overtaking Beijing and extending their lead in the final quarter to secure a 70-59 victory. Both the men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams from Guangdong finished with perfect records, claiming the championship in five-a-side play. Earlier in the event, they had also won gold in the three-on-three format for both genders.

Qin Xulei, a player from the Guangdong men’s wheelchair basketball team, was honored as the “Most Valuable Player.” In the men’s final, he scored an impressive 35 points, including back-to-back three-pointers in the second half, igniting a scoring spree that helped propel his team from a tie to a commanding lead, much to the delight of the fans. Reflecting on his performance, Qin credited his teammates and expressed gratitude for the enthusiastic support from the crowd in Qingyuan.

In the women’s final, local player Zuo Peiqin had a steady performance. Returning to her hometown for this competition, she remarked, “I still need to continue honing my skills and will learn from my teammates. I hope to perform even better in next year’s national competition.”

Two referees from Hong Kong officiated the games, with referee Zheng Jizhao sharing, “I have officiated basketball games in the mainland multiple times. This opportunity to referee wheelchair basketball was a valuable chance for practice and exchange, as we prepare for next year’s major events in the Greater Bay Area.”