Indonesia to host 11th ASEAN Para Games

The 11th ASEAN Para Games, which was supposed to be hosted by Hanoi, Vietnam, will now be held in Solo, Indonesia.

The new venue was announced by the ASEAN Para Sports Federation on Thursday, a day after it was officially approved by their Board of Governors.

Hanoi withdrew from hosting duties last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Indonesia previously hosted the sixth edition of the Para Games back in 2011.

"After careful deliberation and consideration, [the] majority of the Board reached a decision to officially award Indonesia the hosting job following [the] decision by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to remove Indonesia from its non-compliance list earlier this month," said BOG Chairman H.E. Yi Veasna.

According to the Para Sports Federation, the National Doping Agency of Indonesia was put on the WADA non-compliance list due to "non-conformities in implementing an effective testing program," resulting in the nation being barred from hosting any international sporting events.

The Para Games are scheduled to be held on July 23 to 30.

At least 14 para sports are lined up for the games, such as archery, athletics, badminton, boccia, CP football, chess, goalball, judo, powerlifting, table tennis, swimming, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis and the newest addition, sitting volleyball.

The Philippines was also supposed to host the 10th edition of the Games back in 2020, but was cancelled due also to the COVID-19 pandemic.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/MGP, GMA News