Para Sukma 2022 kicks off with grand opening do

KUALA LUMPUR: The Para Malaysia Games (Para Sukma) 2022 kicked off today with a grand opening ceremony at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil, near here, that was attended by 1,100 athletes and team officials.

The opening ceremony began with all 15 contingents, including those from Kuala Lumpur and Labuan, marching into the stadium before Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu gave his speech.

"The Para Sukma is the best platform to showcase the talents of athletes with disabilities from all over the country.

"The 20th edition of the Para Sukma is also a stepping stone for some of these athletes to one day rise to a higher level of competition," he said.

The ceremony was then officiated by Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM) patron Tun Jeanne Abdullah.

A group of visually- and hearing-impaired people then performed a song to the delight of the crowd before local rock queen Ella took it up a notch with the rendition of her popular tune 'Standing In the Eyes Of The World'.

Among the guests present at the event were Youth and Sports Ministry secretary-general Datuk Jana Santhiran Muniayan, National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail and PCM president Datuk Seri Megat D.Shahriman Zaharuddin.

A total of 294 events from 10 sports - boccia, swimming, badminton, chess, lawn bowls, archery, athletics, table tennis, powerlifting and tenpin bowling - are being contested in the Para Sukma 2022.

-- BERNAMA