The Chinese delegation. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

Three hearing-impaired athletes from Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province won championships at the 10th International Abilympics in Metz, France from March 23 to 26, local media outlets reported.

Zheng Yunhai used his dexterous hands and sharp knives in the food sculpting category; Wang Xiaozhen created various hairstyles and took the crown in the hairdressing category; and Hu Chunfang used a needle and a thread to take first place in the crochet category.

Zheng Yunhai (in red) poses with his fruit-sculpting work. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

The awards also marked the first time that Hangzhou contestants won medals at the event.

The International Abilympics, also known as the Special Olympics or the International Disabled Exhibition of Abilities, is the highest-level and largest-scale global vocational skills competition for disabled individuals.

The Chinese delegation won a total of six gold medals, seven silver medals, and seven bronze medals, ranking fourth in the medal table.