One week to go until 2013 Asian Youth Para-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."

More than 1,200 athletes from 30 countries are heading to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in the coming days for the start of the 2013 Asian Youth Para-Games which get underway in one week’s time.

Taking place between 26-30 October, the AYPG 2013 will feature 14 sports, a significant increase on the five sports contested in the last edition in Tokyo in 2009. The inaugural edition in Hong Kong in 2003 featured two sports and the event is now seen as a steeping towards bigger events such as next year’s Asian Para Games in Incheon, Korea and the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

With just days to go before competition begins, the Games have received a boost following sponsorship pledges from three companies - Edaran Tan Chong Motors (ETCM) and Eau Claire Sdn Bhd and MiKASA.

Edaran Tan Chong Motors Sdn Bhd, the authorised distributor of Nissan cars in Malaysia, will be providing official vehicles for the Games while Eau Claire has stepped forward to be the Official Mineral Water of AYPG 2013. MIKASA, manufacturer of volleyballs, 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, sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis.

The Games, held for the first time in Malaysia, are 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.

Among the leading nations confirmed are China, Japan, Iran, Iraq, Thailand and Korea. Hosts 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 the 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.