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Quake survivors strive for direction to new life

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-05 14:25

CHENGDU -- Lifting the rifle, aiming at the target, clicking the trigger, putting down the rifle, and lifting it again ...

Tian Fugang has been repeating the actions for the entire afternoon in a shooting range hall at Sichuan Land Sports School. Only the slight sound of triggering empty rifles could be heard, which was boring enough to make spectators fall asleep.

The training session ended with good news for Tian.

"I am accepted," he smiled.

The 22-year-old former technician, who was paralyzed in the 8.0-magnitude earthquake on May 12, 2008 in southwest Sichuan Province, had received operations and rehabilitation treatment until early this year.

He realized what his new dream could be after watching the Beijing Paralympic Games in September.

Thanks to the West China Hospital rehabilitation treatment and the media coverage, Tian, a football lover at first, got the opportunity to start training with the Sichuan provincial shooting and archery team in early April.

Tian passed the test and became a shooter after four weeks of training.

"He is talented and can calm down and concentrate on shooting, which is very important," said his coach Wang Ping.

Tian was also pleased to know that the school covers his accommodations and pays him a daily allowance of 20 yuan (about 3 US dollars).

If he performs well in nationwide events, he will get a chance to be selected for the national team.

"I'm eased a little bit now as I can see some hope in the future," Tian said.

He Fang, who lived in another seriously hit area, the Hongbai Township of Shifang City, shared the similar feeling with Tian as she gained some confidence again when she got some business to do.

He Fang's daughter was buried under the debris of her kindergarten for two hours before He and her husband dug her out with help of other parents -- all by their bare hands.

"Our fingers were bleeding. I was scared. Only two survived among the six children buried together," she recalled.

The magnitude-8.0 quake that hit southwest China, including many parts of Sichuan, on May 12 killed more than 69,000 people. It also left nearly 18,000 missing, more than 374,000 injured and millions homeless.

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