IT’s all systems go as athletes from 30 Asian nations prepare to pit their skills and action in the Asian Youth Para Games Malaysia 2013 (AYPG Malaysia 2013), which begins in Kuala Lumpur in a week’s time.
AYPG 2013, scheduled from 26 to 30th October, will feature some 1,200 athletes and officials who will be competing in 14 sports in Kuala Lumpur, as compared to five sports contested in the last edition in Tokyo in 2009. The inaugural edition in Hong Kong in 2003 featured five sports.
The Organisers look forward to many exciting and inspiring action as athletes prepare themselves to gain valuable experience in AYPG Malaysia 2013, and move on to bigger assignments next year, including the Asian Para Games in Incheon scheduled October next year.
In another development, the Games received a boost following sponsorship pledges from three companies — Edaran Tan Chong Motors (ETCM) and Eau Claire Sdn Bhd and MiKASA recently.
Edaran Tan Chong Motors Sdn Bhd, the authorized distributor of Nissan cars in Malaysia, will be providing official vehicles for the Games while Eau Claire has stepped forward to become the Official Mineral Water of AYPG 2013. MIKASA, manufacturer of volley balls, will provide official ball for the Games.
Sports to be contested in the Games are: Archery, Badminton, Boccia, Chess, Goalball, Judo, Powerlifting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Powerlifting, Tenpin Bowling, Volleyball Sitting, Wheelchair Basketball and Wheelchair Tennis. The Games, held for the first time in Malaysia, is supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and sanctioned by the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC).
Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM) President Dato Zainal Abu Zarin, who is also the Chairman of the AYPG Malaysia 2013 Organising Committee (MAYPGOC) welcomed the participation of Edaran Tan Chong Motors, Eau Claire and MIKASA as sponsors of the Games.
“This goes to show the companies’ high commitment and recognition towards enhancing the development of the Paralympic movement in Malaysia. This sponsorship certainly augurs well for the development of our young para athletes to scale greater heights and create success in the upcoming Games,” said Dato Zainal.
AYPG 2013 Malaysia 2013, carrying the theme “Where Passion Grows, Dreams Fulfilled, Friendships Strengthened”, has already set a new benchmark as 14 sports will be contested this time around, as compared to only 5 sports in the last Games in Tokyo in 2009. The first edition of the Games was held in Hong Kong in 2003, followed by Tokyo Japan in 2009.
Among the leading nations confirmed are China, Japan, Iran, Iraq, Thailand and Korea. Host Malaysia will be banking their hopes on several sports which include athletics, boccia, wheelchair basketball and goalball.
Dato Zainal urged companies to step forward and support para athletes and movement in the country by adopting sports listed under the PCM’s Adopt-A-Sport Programme.
“This is a new initiative that we’ve created, getting companies to be directly involved in the running of the sports of their choice during the Games,” said Dato Zainal.
This post was updated on 23 October 2013 to reflect misinformation.