YANGON, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's para-athletes are in the final days of preparation in Yangon ahead of the 13th ASEAN Para Games in Thailand.
Among those training is 34-year-old swimmer Aung Myint Myat, who trains each morning at Yangon's para-sports swimming pool.
Classified as an S6 swimmer, Aung Myint Myat has won 32 medals across the ASEAN Para Games, Asian Para Games and Paralympic competitions since making his ASEAN Para Games debut in 2014.
"I have trained to go beyond the standard of gold," he said during an interview this week. "But success also depends on how well athletes from other countries prepare."
Aung Myint Myat, from Pyapon Township in Ayeyarwady Region, said sport has changed his life.
"Many people think persons with disabilities must rely on their families," he said. "As a para-athlete, my life has changed. I proved that I could stand on my own."
Field athlete Si Thu Htet, 27, is preparing to compete in shot put, discus and javelin.
"I joined sports when I was about 18," he said. "I've been training seriously for the past two years, six days a week, for the ASEAN Para Games. I will compete in shot put, discus and javelin events."
He will compete in the F56 classification.
Si Thu Htet said he began following the ASEAN Para Games in 2014 after watching the event on television.
"The hardest part of the training is getting injured during training," he said.
He said sport has also reshaped his confidence.
"Before, I was afraid of meeting people. Now I feel confident anywhere," he said.
Sprinter So Pay will compete in the 100 and 200 meters in a classification for athletes with a single-leg deficiency below the knee who run with a prosthesis.
Since joining the Myanmar Paralympic Sports Federation in 2016, he has represented the country at regional and international competitions, winning multiple medals.
For 25-year-old athletics competitor Chaw Akari, the upcoming Games will be her first international event. She will compete in throwing events.
"Training here is sometimes hard," she said, "but I compete to support my family and bring pride to Myanmar."
Myanmar's para-athletes will depart for Thailand on Thursday for the ASEAN Para Games, scheduled for Jan. 20-26, 2026, in Nakhon Ratchasima.
U Win Myint, vice president of the Myanmar Paralympic Sports Federation, said Myanmar's delegation will have 145 members, with 97 athletes competing in 11 sports.
"We've trained the athletes for nearly two years and provided equipment and support," he said, adding that medal winners will receive awards.
He said para-sports have also transformed lives.
"Many athletes once stayed at home and felt shy. Now they travel, compete internationally, and gain confidence," he said. ■