Liang Qiaochan (L) and Wu Tongyu perform at the 2018 National Wheelchair Dance Competition in Guangzhou. [edu.youth.cn]    

A physically-impaired couple have won several first prizes at the 2018 National Wheelchair Dance Competition which took place in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong province, from June 26-30.

Wu Tongyu, 30, is from the nearby city of Zhanjiang, whilst his partner Liang Qiaochan, 24, is from the city of Zhaoqing.

The couple, who both suffered from polio when they were young, competed among a total of 150 participants and 10 teams from all over the country.

Wu said that he was unable to move until he was 10. In order to help him study at school, his mother carried him on her back and accompanied him outside the classroom.

He was bullied by students for his disability, so he exercised his upper body muscles to prove himself. His strong arms gave him confidence and he always dreamed of doing sports, so Wu even participated in local provincial sports meeting as a Paralympic athlete.

Three years ago, upon the recommendation of a friend, he participated in the entrance test for Guangzhou Wheelchair Dance Team (GWDT) and was accepted among the first batch of dancers.

"Training was hard, and it was difficult to perform Latin dancing in a wheelchair. I didn't even want to go back after the first class," he said.

Under the encouragement of his friends and teachers, Wu finally insisted, and ranked fourth in the second-tier of the male solo world wheelchair dance contest.

Liang, meanwhile, was still unable to walk until she turned six. Instead, she crawled on the ground. Her mother wished for her to be independent and made her a wooden walking stick. She had a number of them until eventually her mother bought her a stick made of iron. But due to the longtime use of the stick, her armpit became heavily worn down.

She went to school at seven and persisted in her study and despite much difficulty, she participated in the national college entrance exams.

"As I didn't like the major of the school that accepted me, I went to Guangzhou to take an interview at a English training center," Liang said. "I was admitted to the school and have stayed in Guangzhou to work ever since."

After entering the Guangzhou wheelchair dance team, she won the mixed Latin category at the first National Wheelchair Championship.

Able-bodied performer Qian Lingli, who has danced with the couple, said: "Though there are a lot difficulties and danger to practice and perform with the wheelchair dancers, I'd like to stay in GWDT, because I love the atmosphere here, and they are all amazing."

Liang Qiaochan (L), Qian Lingli (C), Wu Tongyu (R) practice Latin dancing together at Guangzhou Sports Center for Disabled. [ edu.youth.cn]