Parasport Vietnam's support praised for helping to boost country's medal tally at ASEAN Para Games

Parasport Foundation Vietnam's support has been praised in helping to deliver ASEAN Para Games success ©Parasport Foundation Vietnam

Parasport Vietnam’s role in helping the country’s success at the 2015 ASEAN Para Games in Singapore has received praise from the Vietnam Paralympic Association general secretary Vu The Phiet.

The Vietnamese team secured 48 gold, 58 silver and 50 bronze medals at the Games, which took place from December 3 to 9.

Their performances helped the nation finish fourth on the overall medals table, out of the 10 competing countries at the Games, with only Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia earning more medals.

Vu The Phiet reflected upon the importance of the support provided by the Parasport Vietnam Foundation, who helped the team attend the Games.

“Twenty fifteen has been a great year for Vietnamese Paralympic sport, with our swimming, athletics and powerlifting teams competing at an international level and also qualifying for the Rio Games in 2016,” said the newly appointed vice-president of ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF).

“We would like to thank Parasport Foundation for promoting the work of the Vietnam Paralympic Association and in assisting our athletes’ preparation for the Rio Paralympic Games.”

Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Thuy secured on of Vietnam's 48 gold medals at the Games ©SAPGOC

A total of 130 Vietnamese athletes competed in athletics, swimming, weight-lifting, badminton, chess, table tennis, football, boccia, and rowing at the Games.

Around 3,000 athletes and officials were hosted by Singapore during the eighth edition of the Games, described as the “best-ever” by APSF President Dato Zainal Abu Zarin.

Having watched the seven-days of competition Oleg Boyko, the founder of Parasport Foundation, a Russian-based organisation which works closely with National Paralympic Committees around the world, praised the high standard of performances produced by the Vietnamese athletes at the Games.

“I am always amazed at the extraordinary speed with which Paralympians can acquire new skills, or adopt and embrace a sport from scratch only to become world class record breakers,” he said.

“I have been overwhelmed by the strength, resilience, and utter determination that has been displayed these past days.”