Ninth ASEAN Para Games opens in Malaysia

It is the third time Malaysia has hosted the ASEAN Para Games since 2001. With the message of welcoming athletes with disabilities to compete and conquer the heights of sports, the opening ceremony opened with impressive performances and images of sport.

The ceremony also featured parades from the participating teams and a stunning show combining sound and light.

Spectators showed their admiration for the physically-challenged athletes, who, they said, have inspired others with their love for sport.

In his opening remarks, Malaysian Minister of Youth and Sports Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar said that the Para Games is not only a sporting competition but also an event honouring human will.

The ASEAN Para Games 2017 takes place until September 23, with the participation of 1,452 athletes with disabilities, competing for 368 medal sets across 16 events.

The 142-athlete Vietnamese team will vie for medals in eight events, including swimming, track-and-field, weightlifting, table tennis, chess, badminton, boccia and football for the visually-impaired.

On the morning of September 17, the Vietnamese table tennis players of Class 8 defeated Thailand and Malaysia 3-1 and 3-0 in the men's team category, while those in Class 4 lost to Thailand 3-0 in the men's event.

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

* Also on the night of September 17 (Vietnam time), the inaugural ceremony of the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games 2017 (AIMAG 5-2017) took place in the capital city of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. This is the first time the Central Asian nation has hosted a continental class event.

The 164-member Vietnamese team at AIMAG 5-2017 will compete in 14 out of 21 events, aiming to win eight gold medals, with top swimmer Anh Vien and athlete Tu Chinh being key medal hopes. On the day before the opening ceremony, Vietnamese athletes won two bronze medals in Jujitsu.

(Source: NDO)