Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – The ninth ASEAN Para
Games opened at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
September 17 night.
The opening ceremony featured parades from the participating
teams and a stunning sound and light show.
Spectators admired 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 the
Para Games is not only a sport competition but also an event honouring the human
will.
The 142-athlete Vietnamese team will vie for medals in eight
events, including swimming, track-and-field, weightlifting, chess, badminton,
boccia, football for the visually-impaired and table tennis.
On September 17 morning, 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 of Class 4 lost to Thailand 3-0 in the men’s
event.
The ASEAN Para Games is a biannual multi-sport
event held after every Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) for ASEAN athletes
with physical disabilities. The games are participated in by the countries
located in Southeast Asia, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The ninth Games will last until September 23.-VNA