Solo, C Java - Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono here on Tuesday night officially closed the 6th ASEAN paragames from which the Thai contingent emerged as the overall champion.
Minister Laksono on the occasion expressed his appreciation to Thai athletes over their success in the biennial sports event.
"The ASEAN handicapped athletes through honesty and struggle have proven their special qualities," the minister said at the sports event closing ceremony that took place in the Manahan stadium.
A total of 1,296 handicapped athletes and their officials from 11 countries took part in the sixth ASEAN Paragames to vie for 419 gold medals.
Of the number of gold medals for grabs 134 were for swimming, 120 for athletics, 45 for sitting table tennis, 32 for chess, 30 for bowling, 20 for weightlifting, 18 for badminton, 7 for sitting tennis, 2 for sitting volley ball and one for goal ball.
"Other athletes who haven`t been successful should not despair because they will have other opportunities in the future," Laksono said.
The minister also hoped that all the ASEAN member countries would send their athletes to compete in all games of the next event.
"See you in Myanmar in 2013," the minister said who then handed over the flag as a symbol of the biennial sports event to the Myanmar contingent.
Following is the final medal tally of the 6th ASEAN Paragames:
gold silver bronze
1. Thailand 123 96 73
2. Indonesia 113 108 89
3. Malaysia 51 36 45
4. Vietnam 44 44 72
5. Philippines 23 23 18
6. Myanmar 11 8 12
7. Singapore 9 10 9
8. Brunei Darussalam 3 5 8
9. Cambodia 0 5 2
10. Timor Leste 0 2 1
11. Laos 0 1 1. (*)
Source: http://www.antaranews.com