Limited by eyesight, still squaring off with fists

In the boxing ring, 51-year-old Deng Xuemei reveled in the delivery of every jab and hook, her body glistening with sweat. Visually impaired, she relied on her other senses — now acutely heightened — to discern her opponent's position.

Deng was part of a public welfare event that unfolded in Chongqing on Aug 31. Nineteen participants with partial vision donned boxing gear and attempted to break through their sensory limitations, discovering new joy in the sport.

The temporary arena at Longfor Paradise Walk in Chongqing's College City was marked with lines to accommodate four pairs of people — each pair consisting of a partially sighted participant and a volunteer. They worked together to practice moves. A one-on-one match would come later.

Two coaches gave instructions on how to focus the force of a punch, execute a hook and maintain balance.

At first, Deng's punches were tentative as she sought to find a rhythm and adapt to the action. But she quickly adjusted to the sounds around her and became sharply accurate.

"At first, I was really nervous and didn't know where to put my hands and feet," Deng said. "Thanks to the personal hands-on guidance from the professional coaches and volunteers, I gradually mastered the basic movements."