Approximately 700 athletes from 30 countries were present as the fourth edition of the multi-sport event was officially opened by the Bahrain Olympic Committee President Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Rashed underlined the significance of the Games for Para sport across the continent during his address.

"They are a fundamental part of growing the Paralympic movement across our region so that more Asian Para-athletes can shine and in doing so they can help to shift perceptions of what all people with impairment are capable of," he said.

"In this way, we can start to deliver on the APC’s vision ‘to make for an inclusive Asia through Para sport’.

"We hope that over the next four days of sport, all of the young athletes here can shine and through their performances can encourage and excite other young Asian people with impairment to believe that there is no limit to what they can achieve.

"We hope too that their performances can break down barriers and can drive towards more inclusion in sport and society."

Sheikh Mohamed bin Duaij Al Khalifa, the President of the Bahrain Paralympic Committee, also spoke at the Opening Ceremony.

Nine sports are featuring on the Asian Youth Para Games programme - athletics, badminton, boccia, goalball, powerlifting, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo and wheelchair basketball.

Events are set to be held at the Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town and the Isa Sports City.

Competition at the Games is due to run until Monday (December 6).

The Asian Youth Para Games was last held in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates in 2017, when Japan finished top of the medal table with 43 golds.