Members of the national team for the Asian Para Games on Oct. 24 take a group photo at the wrap-up news conference for the Asian Para Games in Japan at the media center of the Korea Paralympic Committee in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. (Korea Paralympic Committee)

By Charles Audouin

The national team on the afternoon of Oct. 25 returned home after competing at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games in Japan.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Paralympic Committee that day held a welcoming ceremony at Incheon International Airport's Terminal 2, where some 300 people gathered to greet the squad.

The 214-member delegation competed in all 18 sports at the Para Asiad, which ran from Oct. 18-24 in Nagoya and other parts of Aichi Prefecture. The events included track and field, boccia, blind football, judo, powerlifting and swimming.

Korea finished fifth in gold medals behind China, Japan, Uzbekistan and India and brought home 100 medals combined -- 29 gold, 38 silver and 33 bronze -- eight more golds than its original target of 21.

"We welcome home our athletes who gave their best on the Asian stage," the ministry said. "We will keep striving to ensure that more people with disabilities find joy and vitality through sports."

caudouin@korea.kr