Opening ceremony of the 5th Summer Asian Para Games held

The opening ceremony of the 5th Summer Asian Para Games was held in Nagoya, Japan. At the ceremony, held at Paloma Mizuho Stadium, Emperor Naruhito of Japan welcomed the participants and officially opened the Games.

Representatives from 45 countries’ delegations attended the ceremony. Uzbekistan was represented by Shahnoza Mirziyoyeva, First Deputy Chairperson of the National Paralympic Committee, Otabek Umarov, First Vice President of the National Olympic Committee, Mukhtorkhon Toshkhujayev, Vice President of the Asian Paralympic Committee and Chairman of the National Paralympic Committee, and other officials. 

During the opening ceremony of the 5th Summer Asian Para Games, Paralympic para taekwondo champion Asadbek Toshtemirov and para cycling world champion Marjona Pardaboyeva carried Uzbekistan's national flag.

Both athletes, who have consistently represented Uzbekistan with distinction internationally, proudly led the Uzbekistan delegation at the opening ceremony, carrying the national flag. 

Uzbekistan’s national team is competing in this year’s continental Games with 149 para athletes representing 11 sports. The delegation includes 77 women. This is nearly 1.5 times the number of Uzbek para athletes who competed at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games.

The competitions in Nagoya will also give Uzbekistan’s athletes a chance to showcase their skills in new disciplines. For the first time, Uzbekistan will compete in para fencing, boccia, and para archery. 

The Games, which will run until October 24, feature 18 sports, with 492 sets of medals up for grabs. Members of the Uzbekistan delegation will also compete to achieve strong results on the continental stage.

Javohir Toshkhujayev, UzA