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Zhang Tianxin (R) and his teammate Chen Minyi pose for a photo after winning the gold medal in archery Mixed Team-W1 event on Aug 28. [Photo/thehour.cn]

Jiaxing athlete Zhang Tianxin and his teammate Chen Minyi won the gold medal in the archery Mixed Team-W1 event at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games on Aug 28, local media reported.

This is the first time a Jiaxing athlete has won a Paralympics gold medal.

Zhang, 23, hails from Pinghu, a county-level city in Jiaxing. He lost his ability to walk when was a child due to illness.

Zhang has always been optimistic about life. In 2017, he enrolled in a physical education school in Hangzhou with hopes of becoming an athlete.

The school's archery coach identified Zhang as a gifted archer and persuaded him to pick up the sport.

As a beginner, Zhang spent loads of time undergoing basic trainings and as a person with disabilities, he also needed to pay more efforts to improve his physical strength than healthy people.

After mastering the basic skills, Zhang soon showed his talent in archery.

In 2019, Zhang won a gold and a silver medal at the World Paralympic Archery Championship in the Netherlands. He won another gold medal at the Asian Paralympic Archery Championship in Thailand.

On Aug 30, Zhang will compete in the Men's Individual-W1 Quarterfinal.