ASEAN Para Games closes in Malaysia

Speaking at the closing ceremony, President of the ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF) Osoth Bhavilai said more than 1,300 athletes with physical disabilities in the region competed in the games.

Demonstrating strong will, determination and high sport spirit, these athletes deserved to be honoured at the event, he stressed.

At the games, Indonesia came first with 251 medals, including 126 golds, followed by the host Malaysia with 90 gold medals.

Vietnam sent 142 athletes to vie for medals in eight events, including swimming, track-and-field, weightlifting, chess, badminton, boccia, football for the visually-impaired and table tennis.

Vietnam won a total of 161 medals, including 40 golds, 61 silvers, and 60 bronzes, standing fourth in the medal tally, after Thailand with 68 golds.

Vietnamese athletes broke records at the games include swimmers Vo Thanh Tung, Trinh Thi Bich Nhu and Vi Thi Hang, weightlifters Le Van Cong, Nguyen Binh An, Dang Thi Linh Phuong, and Chau Hoang Tuyet Loan, and runner Le Van Manh.

The Philippines will host the 30th SEA Games and 10th ASEAN Para Games.

The ASEAN Para Games is a biannual multi-sport event held after every Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) for ASEAN athletes with physical disabilities.

This year’s games saw the participation of all 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, along with Timor Leste.