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In Pictures: ASEAN Para-Games

Nearly 2,000 disabled athletes from 10 nations competed in 12 sports at Myanmar’s brand new Wunna Theidki Stadium.

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An Indonesia women(***)s sitting volleyball team member serves to Myanmar(***)s team in the finals.
By Philip Heijmans
Published On 22 Jan 2014

The 7th ASEAN Para-Games, held in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw, drew to a close filled with fireworks on January 20th. Nearly 2,000 athletes from 10 ASEAN countries competed in 12 sports at the newly completed Wunna Theidki Stadium. The multi-million dollar complex was compared to Malaysia’s international standard sporting facilities for disabled athletes.

Myanmar’s disabled population is quoted by government officials as being anywhere from two to 10 percent. Indonesia led the medal tally on the final day, but Myanmar showed strength in hitting the finals in seated volleyball and goal ball – a blind, football-based game featuring an audible ball.

Myanmar also debuted teams in Para-Games crowd favourite, wheelchair basketball, with the men’s team narrowly missing a bronze medal in a showdown with the Philippines’ team.

The sports contested at the Para-Games were: Archery, athletics, wheelchair basketball, boccia, chess, goal ball, powerlifting, swimming, table tennis, sitting volleyball, football 5-a-side and football 7-a-side. Nearly 400 medals were awarded during the week of the games. It was Myanmar’s first time hosting the Para-Games, after the conclusion of its third time hosting the SEA Games. 

A young Myanmar fan cheers the men(***)s sitting volleyball team in the final against Thailand.
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Prosthetic legs sit court-side prior to the men’s sitting volleyball final between Myanmar and Thailand.
A Myanmar official fills out a certificate at the table tennis awards ceremony.
Indonesian power lifter Santoso Boby salutes the crowd after he presses 191kg in the “up to 88kg” category.
The Filipino wheelchair basketball team faces off against the Myanmar team ahead of their bronze medal match. 
Myanmar wheelchair basketball player Aung Ko (right) chases down a pass alongside a competing Filipino player.
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Malaysian sprinter Mohd Azlan races ahead of the competition to finish in first place in the men(***)s T-36 100 metre sprint, clocking in at 12.46 seconds.
Malaysian sprinters Mohd Raduan, Mohd Azlan and Muhamad Ridzuan (from left to right ) come together after finishing the men(***)s T-36 100 metre sprint on January 19.
Thai runner Songwut crosses the finish line in first place in the men(***)s T-13 100 metre sprint, finishing at 11.32 seconds.
A Laotian blind goal baller makes a save in the women’s final against Thailand.
An Indonesian blind footballer listens for the ball in the football 5-a-side final against Malaysia.
Indonesian and Malaysian footballers vie for the ball.
Indonesia celebrates after the men(***)s football 5-a-side competition.
Hundreds of dancers in tribal attire take to the stage during the closing ceremonies of the ASEAN Para-Games.