BEIJING, Sept. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- Sports serve as an important means for disabled people to be integrated into society, said Chinese powerlifter Yuan Yanping on Thursday.

    "Participating in sports is an important approach for people with disabilities to step into the society, expand their horizon and express themselves," Yuan told a press conference at the Main Press Center of the Beijing Paralympic Games.

    "Disabled people have more difficulties in sports training and everything else than the average people," said Yuan, "But sports can help them to present themselves."

    Yuan, who won a judo gold at the women's +70 kg on Tuesday, also expresses her gratitude to her coaches, who have taught the disabled judokas with great patience and set them examples of heroism.

    "They are all more than 50 years old. When some coaches lead us to do this, they deeply moved us," said Yuan.

    The year 2008 is a "lucky year" for Yuan, for she not only won a Paralympic gold but also graduated from Beijing International Studies University with a bachelor's degree in English.

    However, judo training and the academic studies posed a great challenge for Yuan, who once cried for one hour and a half when her parents visited her due to her tremendous pressure.

    But she overcame the difficulties with great persistence and finally made it.

    The 32-year-old said many of the judokas at the Paralympics are older than her, which has reinforced her confidence in keeping up her training to compete in the future.