The Special Olympics Asia Pacific Badminton Competition recently wrapped up, with 80 badminton players, including 63 athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities and 17 unified partners (people without disabilities who play side by side with athletes with ID). Participants represented 10 countries across the region: Bangladesh, Bharat (India), Indonesia, Maldives, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Pilipinas, Singapore, Thailand, and host country, Malaysia.

The four-day competition took place between 17 to 20 September 2025 at Stadium Juara, Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Importantly, the regional competition, alongside other year-round Special Olympics initiatives, expanded inclusive sports and competition opportunities for people with IDD in Asia Pacific, who routinely face pervasive stigmatization, social exclusion, and bias. The athletes at the competition have undergone extensive training and preparation to demonstrate their resilience, talent, courage, and sportsmanship on an international stage.

The opening ceremony kicked off at the stadium, with a delegation march-in from the 10 country programs as well as speeches from Pn. Siti Mariam binti Ahmad Tobias, Director, Sports Development for Persons with Disabilities Branch, National Youth and Sports Department; Bong Koi Sin, President of Special Olympics Malaysia and Dipak Natali, Regional President and Managing Director of Special Olympics Asia Pacific.