On the opening day of the 4th Asian Para Taekwondo Open Championships in Ho Chi Minh City, audiences were treated to extraordinary performances by disabled Taekwondo fighters from around the world.

The event, running from May 24 to 29 at Phu Tho Indoor Stadium in District 11, boasts the participation of more than 200 disabled athletes representing 23 countries and territories from Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia.

Vietnam has no contenders in the event despite being playing host.

Contestants at the Asia Para Taekwondo Open are put into four categories based on their level of physical disability: partial hand amputation, above-elbow amputation, forequarter amputation, and bilateral arm amputation.

Check out these photos taken by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper of the extraordinary competitors who participated in day one.

Nabavi, a bilateral amputated fighter from Iran smiles before her match.

Nabavi refuses to let her handicap be a disadvantage against her single-arm opponent.

A powerful sole kick is released by a bilateral amputee fighter.

A showdown between two bilateral amputatee fighters

A heavyweight American para-fighter (R) smiles after a defeat against an Iranian opponent.

A para-fighter tries to take pictures of his peers in combat.

South Korean representative Kim Hyun reacts after receiving a kick in the face – a taboo in Para Games, which prompted assistance from the medical team.

Fighters have their coaches hold the certificates for them while posing for photos.