SINGAPORE - This year's Singapore National Para Games (SNPG) will feature a record 19 sports to be held over two months.
The annual multi-sport event, which was first held in 2002, was launched on Saturday at the Singapore Sports School by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Grace Fu. The event will end on Oct 1.
It is expected to draw over 550 participants who will take part in sports including athletics, 3-on-3 basketball, table tennis and powerlifting.
It marks an increase from last year's edition, which boasted 15 sports and drew more than 500 participants. In 2013, there were just 13 sports.
Dr Teo-Koh Sock Miang, president of the Singapore Disability Sports Council, said: "The SNPG will be an important annual sporting platform for athletes, especially newer athletes with disabilities, to train towards and to strive for sporting excellence.
"We look forward to welcoming more para athletes to participate in the SNPG."
Para swimmer Danielle Moi, 16, enjoys the thrill of competing. The Metta School student said: "If you don't have competitions, how can you beat your own times?
"When I know that there's a competition, I have to sleep early to prepare myself mentally to be pumped up, and to save energy for the race."
Singapore successfully hosted the Asean Para Games for the first time in December. The contingent of 154 athletes finished with a record 24 golds, 17 silvers and 22 bronzes. The previous best gold haul was 16 amassed at the inaugural Games in 2001. Last year's event featured over 1,000 competitors from 10 countries.
