PHNOM PENH, June 9 — The 12th ASEAN Para Games came to a glittering close featuring a spectacular performance that kept the 50,000 odd adoring fans on the edge of their seats at the Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, here tonight.
The crowd had started to trickle in as early as 4pm to ensure they would not miss the opportunity of witnessing a historic event unfolding right in front of their eyes and at their door steps after more than 60 years since Cambodia is hosting the SEA Games and Para Games for the first time in the history of the SEA Games which was incepted in 1959.
The closing ceremony started with a parade that saw all 11 contingents that participated in the Para Games march into the stadium, either physically or on wheel chairs, to a thunderous applause from the crowd.
The Games which started on June 3, came to a close after a week of competitions, thrills and spills which featured more than 400 events involving 14 sports.
The Malaysian contingent headed by 2023 APG Chef-de-Mission (CDM) Noor Syahieda Mat Shah came in with a matching outfit that showcased the Jalur Gemilang logo on their chest.
The performance on stage started with a musical ‘Cambodia Shines’ followed by a display of Cambodian self defence martial art demo by ‘Kun Bokator Physcial Education’.
The highlight of the performance was a tribute to the thousands of volunteers who had assisted athletes from all 11 contingents through a musical performance called ‘Heart Language’ which saw the volunteers parading around the stadium.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen was given the honour to give a speech and later declare the games closed.
With the flames from the cauldron slowly dying out, the Para ASEAN Games Federation flag was lowered down and later handed to the next host, Thailand.
Thailand is expected to host the 13th edition of the ASEAN Para Games in Nakhon Ratchasima from Jan 20-26 of 2026.
Like the culmination of all major games, a fireworks display lighted up the skyline once the flames that had been burning continuously for seven days, died down.
The 144-member Malaysian contingent comprising ended their campaign in the 2023 APG with 50 gold, 38 silver and 28 bronze medals and finished fourth overall from 11 participating countries.
Indonesia emerged as the overall champion for the fourth consecutive time with 159 gold, 148 silver and 94 bronze after Myanmar 2013, Kuala Lumpur 2017, Solo, Indonesia 2022 editions.
Thailand finished second with 126-110-92 and Vietnam finished third on 66-58-77.
