Asian Para Games torch relay kicks off

The torch relay of the Asian Para Games commenced on Wednesday, starting from Solo city in Central Java province, for the sporting gala for Asian athletes with disabilities.

The relay began from Mrapen, the site of the geological eternal flame in Grobokan province situated in central Indonesia, and will be taken to several spots in the province before it continues on to cities across the archipelagic country, the committee revealed in a statement.

The flame will head to some big cities located in the eastern parts of the country and will travel to those in the central part of the country as well as the western parts of the nation, reports Xinhua news agency.

The torch is set to arrive in the country's capital of Jakarta at the venue of the multi-sport event on September 30.

The Asian Para Games, staged every four years after the Asian Games, are scheduled to be held from October 6-13.

Tickets will be given free to fans with disabilities. As many as 2,800 athletes and 1,800 officials from 41 countries and regions will participate in 18 sports at the Para Games, according to Indonesia's youth and sport ministry.

Among the sports are badminton, basketball, table tennis, swimming, chess, cycling, fencing and others, it said.

The Asian Para Games were first held in Guangzhou in 2010 and then in 2014 in South Korea.

--IANS

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