The Singapore National Paralympic Council (SNPC) held a flag presentation ceremony today at Singapore Sports Hub for the upcoming 4th Asian Para Games (AsPG), taking place from 22 to 28 October 2023 in Hangzhou, China.
Ms Monique Heah, Vice President of SNPC, has been appointed as Chef de Mission and Para Swimmer Wong Zhi Wei as the flagbearer for the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games. They will lead Team Singapore at the Opening Ceremony of the Games.
Ms Monique Heah has served as a committee member at the Equestrian Federation of Singapore for the past 16 years and is currently the Secretary General. She has also been involved in various major Games in different capacities.
“This is my first time leading the contingent for the Games and I am truly honoured.
I will be heading to the Asian Games as an International Technical Official (ITO), but I am even more excited to be Chef de Mission for Team Singapore at the AsPG.
I am sure that with their hard work, determination and resilience, our para athletes will do our country proud, and I wish them all the best,” said Ms Heah.
Para Swimmer, Wong Zhi Wei, has been appointed as the flagbearer.
Wong, who is visually impaired, was diagnosed with Stage 5 chronic kidney disease four years ago and in January 2020, he underwent a kidney transplant in China. Following the surgery, he had to take three months to recover at home and halted all trainings and competitions. Despite health challenges, Wong remained resilient, positive, and determined to do his best.
“My first time being the flagbearer was in 2017, for the Asian Youth Para Games in Dubai. I am honoured to be chosen once again to reprise this role for Team Singapore at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games and I am always grateful that I can fly our country’s flag high at one of the prestigious major games.”
Currently an undergraduate at the National University of Singapore majoring in Psychology, Wong won five (5) medals (one gold, two silvers, and two bronzes) in his individual meets earlier this year at the 12th ASEAN Para Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
This is Wong’s second appearance at the Asian Para Games, after making his debut at the 2018 Games in Jakarta.
“It has been five years since the last Asian Para Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia, therefore like everyone else, I am quite excited for the Games in Hangzhou this time.
I will do my best and hopefully be able to stand on the podium,” said Wong.
The Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games will take place two weeks after the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, and a total of 33* athletes have been selected to compete across nine sports.
See the list of selected athletes here.
* Para swimmers Yip Pin Xiu and Sophie Soon will not be competing as the events in their classifications have been cancelled.
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