Thais return with fifth para games title

On the final day of the five-day biennial sports tournament for the disabled, Thailand stretched their domination to a fifth overall title in succession. Hosts Malaysia captured the overall crown at the inaugural Games in 2001 but since then, Thailand have won every edition – 2003 in Hanoi, 2005 in Manila, 2008 in Nakhon Ratchasima and 2010 in Kuala Lumpur, where they fought tooth and nail for a huge haul of 157 gold medals.

Along with their 123 golds this year, Thailand collected 96 silver and 73 bronze medals. Hosts Indonesia bagged a larger total of 310 medals, but only 113 were gold, earning them overall second place. However, the hosts can be proud of achieving their highest-ever placing. In the previous five Games, Indonesia finished outside the top three. Third place went to Malaysia with a total of 50 gold, 35 silver and 45 bronze medals. Vietnam finished fourth overall after bagging 44 gold, 44 silver and 72 bronze medals.

The Philippines ended fifth with 23 golds, while Burma and Singapore were in sixth and seven places overall with 11 and nine golds respectively. Brunei took eighth with three golds, while Cambodia, Timor Leste and Laos failed to grab a single gold. Cambodia took home five silver and two bronze medals to come in ninth place overall.

Debutantes Timo Leste claimed two silver and four bronze, with Laos taking the wooden spoon with one silver and one bronze.

More than 1,500 athletes from 11 countries took part in the Games, vying for a total of 422 gold medals and the overall crown. The Burmese capital of Naypydaw will host the next episode, in 2013.