Veteran powerlifter Lê Văn Công will carry the Vietnamese flag at the opening ceremony of the 5th Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, leading a 36-member delegation seeking both athletic milestones and international goodwill.
The assignment for Lê Văn Công anchors a delegation of 21 athletes who arrived in Japan to compete across five sports—athletics, swimming, powerlifting, table tennis, and badminton—according to reports from Vietnam’s sports administration.
Delegation Leadership Visits Training Bases in Nagoya
Delegation head Nguyễn Trọng Hò inspected training sessions for the swimming and powerlifting squads in Nagoya on the morning of Oct. 13, visiting athletes at their training venues to assess preparations.
He also directed the coaching staff to monitor each athlete's physical condition closely, adjusting training loads dynamically to ensure optimal competition readiness.
Asian Para Games Significance and Humanitarian Impact
Addressing the assembled delegation, Nguyễn framed the continental event not solely as a test of athletic capability, but as a platform for profound human resilience.
“The Asian Para Games represent the largest sporting event for people with disabilities in Asia,” Nguyễn said, highlighting the humanitarian dimensions of athletic inclusion, competitive dedication, and the persistent challenge of pushing past physical barriers.
He emphasized that every competitor had endured a rigorous training regimen to reach the Games, making self-belief, courage, and an unyielding competitive spirit vital components alongside final scores.
Ambassadors of National Resilience Abroad
Beyond medal counts, delegation leaders urged members to act as cultural representatives for their home country during the multi-sport gathering.
Nguyễn called on every athlete to serve as an ambassador for Vietnam, projecting an image of a nation characterized by endurance, courage, and perseverance in the face of adversity. He reminded the delegation to maintain unity, share mutual support, and execute the responsibilities entrusted to them by the state and the public.
Schedule and Classification Preparations in Japan
The 5th Asian Para Games run from Oct. 18 to Oct. 24 across Aichi-Nagoya, gathering competitors from 45 countries and territories across 18 distinct sports.
Vietnam’s contingent of 36 members—including the 21 athletes—settled into local accommodations following their arrival, adjusting to the host nation’s environment. Athletes are currently finishing mandatory disability classification procedures, familiarizing themselves with competition venues, and completing final training blocks.
The official flag-raising ceremony for the Vietnamese delegation is scheduled for the afternoon of Oct. 16, preceding the opening ceremony on Oct. 18. Competition events conclude ahead of the closing ceremony on Oct. 24.
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