Deputy Prime Minister Mai Văn Chính (right) presents the national flag to the Việt Nam para sports delegation at a send-off ceremony in HCM City on December 16, ahead of the 13th ASEAN Para Games in Thailand. — VNS Photo Nguyễn Diệp

 HCM CITY — A 185-member Vietnamese delegation, comprised of 141 athletes, will compete at the 13th ASEAN Para Games in Thailand in January 2026.

The announcement was made at a send-off ceremony held on Tuesday (December 16) in HCM City, underscoring the Party and State’s strong commitment to the development of para sports and their confidence in Vietnamese athletes on the regional stage.

ASEAN Para Games 13 will be held from January 15 to 27 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, with the participation of athletes from 11 Southeast Asian countries.

The Games will feature 19 sports and 536 medal events, highlighting not only sporting excellence but also humanitarian values and inclusion.

The Vietnamese delegation will compete in 11 disciplines, including athletics, swimming, powerlifting, badminton, table tennis, chess, judo, boccia, archery, tennis and fencing.

The team aims to win between 40 and 50 gold medals and finish among the top four or five delegations overall.

Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Mai Văn Chính said caring for persons with disabilities, in the spirit of “leaving no one behind,” is both a political responsibility and an essential requirement for sustainable development.

He stressed the profound humanitarian significance of para sports and expressed confidence in the determination and resilience of Vietnamese athletes.

“The achievements of Việt Nam’s para sports are a testament to the Vietnamese spirit — talent, intellect and resilience, with the courage to dream and the determination to conquer and win,” he said.

He also urged the delegation to compete with integrity, solidarity and sportsmanship, strictly observe competition regulations and respect the laws of the host country, thereby helping to promote the image of a friendly and peace-loving Việt Nam.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoàng Đạo Cương said the ministry would ensure favourable conditions for the delegation and called on athletes to uphold discipline, responsibility and national pride throughout the competition.

Representing the athletes, powerlifter Lê Văn Công, a world champion and multiple Paralympic medallist, said the team would compete fairly, confidently and with the highest determination to bring honour to the nation.

With thorough preparation and strong institutional support, Việt Nam’s para sports delegation enters ASEAN Para Games 13 with high resolve, aiming not only for strong results but also to spread the values of resilience, inclusion and aspiration, while laying the groundwork for future events, including the Asian Para Games and the 2028 Paralympic Games. — VNS