Competing on January 21 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Vietnam’s para-athletes began their campaign at the regional Games, with medal prospects in swimming, athletics and powerlifting.

After Do Thanh Hai opened Vietnam’s medal tally with a silver medal in the men’s 400m freestyle S6, veteran swimmer Vo Huynh Anh Khoa topped the podium in the men’s 400m freestyle S8, finishing first with a time of 5:26.16. Vietnam also claimed the silver and bronze medals in the same event through Han Quan Thoai and Dang Van Cong, respectively.

Several other Vietnamese swimmers, including Trinh Thi Bich Nhu, Le Tien Dat and Nguyen Thi Sari, are scheduled to compete later in the day.

In powerlifting, Paralympic champion Le Van Cong also entered competition, contesting his preferred 49kg category. Other Vietnamese lifters such as Dang Thi Linh Phuong, Nguyen Binh An and Chau Hoang Tuyet Loan are also set to compete.

ASEAN Para Games offers opportunity for local para-athletes to surpass themselves

The 13th ASEAN Para Games, scheduled for January 15-27 in Nakhon Ratchasima province of Thailand, is expected to be a fiercely competitive arena, bringing together the region’s top athletes with disabilities.