The Vietnam Paralympic delegation officially commenced its campaign at the 5th Asian Para Games during a flag-raising ceremony at the Paralympic Village plaza in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, kicking off competition for 21 athletes across five sports disciplines.
Flag-Raising Ceremony Marks Official Arrival in Nagoya
At 5:00 p.m. local time on October 16, the Vietnamese delegation joined representatives from 45 countries and territories for the official welcoming event. Naoki Matsui, deputy secretary-general of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games Organizing Committee, addressed the assembly and expressed hope that athletes, coaches, and delegates would forge memorable experiences while strengthening mutual understanding and friendship among participating nations.
Vietnam entered the Games with a 36-member delegation, including 21 athletes competing in athletics, swimming, weightlifting, table tennis, and badminton.
Opening Day Results in Table Tennis and Badminton
Prior to the formal flag-raising ceremony, Vietnamese athletes stepped directly into competition across table tennis and badminton fixtures. Opening-day matches brought tough tests against opponents from host Japan, India, and South Korea.
In table tennis, competing in the men’s singles class 8 event, Pham Minh Tuan faced host player Abe Hayuma and fell in straight sets with scores of 6-11, 4-11, and 7-11. In the women’s singles class 9 draw, Nguyen Thi Hoa Phuong also dropped a 0-3 decision to India’s Ravi Baby Sahana, posting set scores of 6-11, 5-11, and 4-11.
Meanwhile, in badminton action within the men’s singles SU5 classification for athletes with physical impairments, Van Anh Tuan met South Korea’s Kim Gi-yeon. Van Anh Tuan dropped the match in two sets, 18-21 and 8-21. Van Anh Tuan suffered the amputation of his left arm due to a tumor at age 12 before pursuing the sport and earning selection to represent Vietnam at the Games.
Next Round Schedule and Broader Context
Tournament organizers scheduled the 5th Asian Para Games to run from October 18 through October 24. For the Vietnamese competitors, the schedule immediately turns toward upcoming elimination rounds, with Pham Minh Tuan and Nguyen Thi Hoa Phuong set to face opponents from Kazakhstan.
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