After the parade of each team, the night was filled with vibrant musical performance from Malaysian artists and showcase which include the performance by the country’s top international singer, Yuna.
ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF) President Maj Gen Osoth Bhavilai, praised the Malaysian government and the Malaysia Organising Committee (MASOC) for supporting and the staging of a smooth Games. “On behalf of the ASEAN Para Sports Federation, I wish to thank the Malaysian Government, MASOC, sports officials and federations, for making this a great Games. “Thank you to all the 4,000 WAU Factor volunteers! Thank you to all spectators and fans for the great show of support! Congratulations to Indonesia for winning the Games! To athletes, you are all winners! Well done!” he said.
Maj Gen Osoth Bhavilai also highlighted that during the Games period over 1200 athletes from 11 countries and regions have showcased their courage, spirit of sportmanship and determination for overcoming hardship. They are the ones who create such wonderful moments in the last few days and deserve to be honoured. Finally, Maj Gen Osoth Bhavilai congratulated Indonesia for ranking first in the medal tally of this edition of ASEAN Para Games with 251 medals (126 gold medals, 75 silver medals, 50 bronze medals), followed by the host nation Malaysia with 258 medals (90 gold medals, 85 silver medals, 83 bronze medals).
In this Games, Vietnam Para Sport Delegation consists of 142 athletes competing in 158 events of 8 sports (of 16 sports in total) which include Swimming, Athletics, Weightlifting, Chess, Badminton, Boccia, Goalball and Table Tennis. Comparing to Malaysia, Thailand or Indonesia, the number of Vietnamese athletes remains modest. Comparing to the previous ASEAN Para Games in Singapore (2015), Vietnam bags 8 gold medals fewer (40 gold medasl), whereas the number of silver medals and bronze medals have slightly increased (respectively 61 and 60 comparing to 58 and 50).
Athletics and Swimming continue to be “the gold mine” for Vietnam which support the appropriate investment from Vietnam in key Paralympic sports. The most admiring aspect of Vietnam Para Sport Delegation is that they only participate in half of the total number sports of the Games but manage to break 11 Para Games records, with the most impressive athletes are Vo Thanh Tung for breaking 3 Games records in 200m freestyle, 100m backstroke and 50m freestyle and Trinh Thi Bich Nhu breaking 2 records in Swimming.
The athletes who break one record in this ASEAN Para Games include Le Van Cong, Nguyen Binh An, Dang Thi Linh Phuong, Chau Hoang Tuyet Loan (in Weightlifting), Vi Thi Hang (Swimming) and Le Van Manh (Athletics).
Mr Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Chef de Mission of Vietnam Para Sport Delegation, said: All athletes have shown a great spirit, achieved their best and surpass themselves. These achievements of Para Sports are the example showing the will and determination of the Vietnamese young generation to thrive.
With 161 medals (40 gold medals, 61 silver medals, 60 bronze medals), Vietnam ranked 4th in the medal tally, following Thailand.
The customary handing over ceremony went smoothly soon after the lowering of the Federation flag. SM Nasarudin, in his capacity as Vice Chairman of the Malaysian Organising Committee 2017, handed the flag over to Minister of Youth and Sports and Chairman of the Malaysian Organising Committee, YB Brig Gen Khairy Jamaluddin. YB Brig Gen Khairy then passed on the flag to Maj Gen Osoth who then handed it to the President of the Philippine Paralympic Committee, Michael Barredo. The Philippines will be the host nation of the 30th SEA Games and 10th ASEAN Para Games.