Closing Ceremony of the 13th ASEAN Para Games

On the evening of January 26th, the closing ceremony of the 13th ASEAN Para Games took place at the 80th Birthday Stadium in Thailand.

The opening ceremony began with a parade of representatives from the participating delegations. The organizing committee showed replays of memorable moments and impressive achievements throughout the competition days. According to assessments, the success of the 13th ASEAN Para Games not only affirmed the Games as the largest regional sporting event for people with disabilities but also strongly disseminated the message of noble sportsmanship, inclusion, and the aspiration to overcome challenges in life.

The Vietnamese Paralympic team parades at the closing ceremony.

For nearly two hours, the ceremony focused on honoring the spirit and determination of disabled athletes. At the Games, athletes competed fiercely in many disciplines, providing spectators with exciting competitions and showcasing the increasingly high level of expertise in disabled sports in Southeast Asia.

Besides professional achievements, the spirit of fair play, solidarity, and mutual respect continued to be a highlight throughout the 13th ASEAN Para Games. Following the handover of the hosting flag to the representative of Malaysia – the host of the 14th ASEAN Para Games in 2027 – the torch extinguishing ceremony officially concluded the Games. The closing ceremony ended with a fireworks display, along with radiant images of athletes from all delegations who had overcome challenges and demonstrated their talents at the Games.

The ceremony of handing over the hosting flag to the host of the 14th ASEAN Para Games in 2027.

The 13th ASEAN Para Games will take place from January 20 to 26, 2026, featuring 19 sports and 536 events. The Vietnamese Paralympic team will participate in the 13th ASEAN Para Games with 185 members, including over 140 athletes competing in 11 sports such as Athletics, Swimming, Weightlifting, Badminton, Table Tennis, Chess, Judo, Boccia, Archery, Wheelchair Tennis, and Wheelchair Fencing.

At the conclusion of the Games, the Vietnamese Paralympic team won a total of 38 gold medals, 48 ​​silver medals, and 58 bronze medals. This achievement not only exceeded the targets set before the Games but also placed the team 5th in the overall medal standings, further affirming the position of Vietnamese Paralympic sports in Southeast Asia. In the overall results, strong sports disciplines continued to play a leading role, making a significant contribution to achieving and surpassing the team's performance targets.

Swimming, a traditional strength of the sport, continued to be a source of inspiration for the entire delegation. The Vietnamese swimming team won a total of 14 gold medals, 17 silver medals, and 26 bronze medals, while also breaking 5 records. At the 13th ASEAN Para Games, the Vietnamese Paralympic team athletes made every effort to achieve great success, with some athletes performing exceptionally well.

Artistic performances at the closing ceremony of the congress.

In particular, chess had a successful tournament with 15 gold medals, 4 silver medals, and 11 bronze medals, ranking first overall. This was the most successful sport, contributing the most medals to the overall achievements of the Vietnamese Paralympic Team. This was also the Games where Vietnamese chess won the most gold medals ever.

Athletics was also a significant highlight in the journey of the Vietnamese Paralympic Team, with achievements including 7 gold medals, 18 silver medals, and 11 bronze medals in various events, from short and middle-distance running to throwing events, demonstrating progress in physical fitness, technique, and competitive mentality. This is an important foundation for Vietnamese Paralympic athletics to continue to improve its position in the future.

In events requiring high strength and precision, weightlifting continued to be where Vietnamese athletes demonstrated their class. At the end of the Games, the weightlifting team won 2 gold medals, 5 silver medals, and 3 bronze medals, making a significant contribution to the overall achievements of the delegation.

Besides their strong disciplines, many other teams also competed diligently and achieved noteworthy results, including Archery winning 2 silver and 2 bronze medals; Fencing winning 1 silver and 2 bronze medals; and Table Tennis, Badminton, and Judo each bringing home 1 bronze medal.

The achievements at the 13th ASEAN Para Games are not only measured by the number of medals, but also serve as vivid evidence of the resilience, perseverance, and unwavering aspiration of Vietnamese athletes with disabilities.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/be-mac-asean-para-games-13-20260126224311458.htm