ASEAN Para Games 12: Vietnamese athletes affirm aspirations to win, integrate, devote

The 12th ASEAN Para Games that took place in Cambodia earlier this month marked a great success of the delegation of Vietnamese athletes with disabilities.

Securing the third position in the medal standings with 66 gold medals, 59 silvers, and 78 bronzes, the Vietnamese athletes once again affirmed their aspirations to win, integrate and devote.

The Vietnamese delegation to the event consisted of 164 members, including 122 athletes, who competed in eight out of 14 sports at the tournament, namely track-and-field, swimming, weightlifting, badminton, table tennis, chess, judo, and boccia.

Before the start of the games, Vietnam eyed only 50-55 gold medals and a place in the top four.

Competing at ASEAN Para Games 12, Vietnamese athletes had impressive performances, particularly with 66 gold medals brought home in swimming, athletics, weightlifting, and chess.

Notably, Vietnamese swimmers won 28 gold medals and broke 15 records. Meanwhile, the Vietnam athletics team successfully won 20 gold medals and the weightlifting team won 10 gold medals plus two records at the Games. 

Moreover, in six consecutive ASEAN Para Games since 2007, athlete Le Van Cong secured a gold medal. Weightlifter Chau Hoang Tuyet Loan broke the women's 55kg with a 105-kg barbell when she is now 48 years old.

The other eight gold medals for Vietnam at ASEAN Para Games 12 were bagged by chess players.

Besides excellent competition, each member of the Vietnamese delegation at the Games also contributed to conveying the message of a friendly, resilient, and strong-willed person, the image of a country of peace that is strongly developing in culture, economy, and sports.

Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Sports Administration Nguyen Hong Minh, head of the Vietnamese delegation to the 12th ASEAN Para Games, said that ASEAN Para Games is a sporting event that is rich in humanity, helping promote good relations, solidarity, friendship, and mutual understanding among ASEAN countries and creating a playground for athletes with disabilities. 

The tournament brings together many top athletes in the region, he said, adding that Vietnamese athletes with disabilities have shown sportsmanship, contributing to spreading the will to overcome all difficulties and obstacles, affirming their aspirations to win, integrate and devote. 

The number of Vietnamese athletes in the Games ranked 6th out of 11 countries but in the medal standings, Vietnam was in third place. The result showed the great progress of sports of persons with disabilities, approaching the performance of athletes at the continental level.

"The Vietnam Sports Administration will continue to invest in sports that Vietnam has strengths. Swimming, athletics, weightlifting, chess, table tennis, and badminton teams will be supported to have more training. Although many athletes are old and there is a change in injury classification, the Vietnamese sports delegation of people with disabilities still aims to win three gold medals at the 4th Asian Para Games that will take place in October 2023 in China and strive to win a medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games," said Minh.

The sports administration is also planning to restore teams for several other sports such as wheelchair racing, tennis, wheelchair volleyball, and football for the blind.

However, there remain problems in investing in equipment and training conditions for athletes, he said. 

To attract athletes back to practice and compete in sports tournaments, joint efforts are needed, especially support from sponsors, Minh stressed./.

VNA