Singapore 2015 hailed as "best ever" ASEAN Para Games as competition draws to close

The 2015 ASEAN Para Games drew to a close in Singapore ©SAPGOC

The eighth edition of the ASEAN Para Games has been declared the “best ever” as the seven-day event drew to a close in Singapore.

The praise came from Dato Zainal Abu Zarin, President of ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF).

“In the last seven days, we have all witnessed and experienced many great and inspiring moments. Moments filled with excitement, thrills, joy as well as despair and dejection,” he said.

“It has been an incredible journey, an experience that we all will cherish forever.

“My colleagues and I in APSF have concluded that, the 8th ASEAN Para Games here, will be remembered as the ‘best Games ever’ in the 15-year history of our Games.”

The Closing Ceremony at the Grand Ballroom in Marina Bay Sands also saw the cauldron extinguished and flag passed to representatives from Kuala Lumpur, with the Malaysian city set to host the 2017 edition of the event after staging the South East Asian Games earlier in the year.

The final day of action was dominated by team events with the remaining medals in boccia, goalball and wheelchair basketball being awarded, before the gold medal match in the men’s cerebral palsy football competition brought proceedings to a close.

Thailand, who finished top of the medals table with 95 golds, proved to be the leading nation in boccia with their BC3 mixed team of Ekkarat Chaemchoi, Somboon Chaipanich and Tanimpat Visaratanunta beating the host nation 7-3 to win gold.

It was the first of three victories Thailand enjoyed over Singapore in the day’s boccia, with their BC4 mixed pair team earning a 10-0 win before the BC1 and BC2 final ended 10-1 in their favour.

The ASEAN Para Games flag was handed back by Singapore 2015 during the Ceremony ©SAPGOC

Their success continued in goalball competition as their women’s squad overcame Laos 10-0 in the gold medal match, with Myanmar joining both nations on the podium having won bronze.

Malaysia had to settle for silver in the men’s event after Thailand triumphed 16-6 to secure the title, while a closely fought bronze medal match saw Indonesia hold onto a narrow lead to claim a 15-12 victory over Laos.

The Singapore Indoor Stadium played host the men’s wheelchair basketball finals with Thailand once again clinching gold after defeating Malaysia 62-36, despite the opening half of the match saw the silver medallists produce an impressive display.

Philippines completed the podium after recording a 62-38 win over Myanmar in the bronze medal contest.

A stunning final day of competition for Thailand was completed as their men’s cerebral palsy football team earned a 3-0 win over Myanmar to win the final gold of the Games.

Hosts Singapore sealed a narrow 2-1 over Malaysia to claim bronze.