Indians make poor start at 9th Fespic Games

Kuala Lumpur, Nov 26 (UNI) India's campaign at the ninth Fespic Games got off to a disastrous start as they lost all their opening encounters in Badminton, Tennis and Wheel Chair Basketball here.

India Lost 1-2 to Japan in the Team Badminton event and went down 20-68 to Australia in Wheel Chair Basketball. The only Indian to make a winning start was Balachandran who advanced to the second round of the Tennis singles event.

Earlier, the second largest games for the disabled after the Paralympic Games was officially declared open by Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmed Badawi in a colourful opening ceremony yesterday.

Close to 20000 athletes, officials, guests and the public thronged the stadium to witness the start of what is to be the last of the Fespic games.

A total of 47 countries are participating in 19 disciplines in the games which will continue till December 1.

The Fespic Games will be replaced by Asian Para Games, the 10th edition of which will be held in 2010 in Guangzhou, China.

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