The winners and organizers of the 2025 Asian Awards. Photo: Astana Motors

Astana hosted the 2025 Asian Awards. The ceremony for the prestigious awards was held as part of the Conference and 8th General Assembly of the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC). The Chinese brand Chery was an official partner of the APC.

A major forum to shape the future of Asian parasports brought together over 200 delegates from 45 countries. The Asian Awards honored the outstanding achievements of athletes, coaches, and organizations that made a significant contribution to the development of the Paralympic movement in Asia.

Vice President of Chery International Zhu Shaodong presented the Best Youth Athlete award to Shenggao He, a young Chinese para swimmer. He expressed his sincere gratitude to the athletes, who demonstrated that there are no limits for those who pursue their dreams with faith and perseverance.  The core principle of the Paralympic Games—“going beyond limits”—is also closely aligned with the Chery brand.

Vice President of Chery International Zhu Shaodong. Photo: Astana Motors

“Like athletes who never set limits for themselves, we are also consistently committed to improving ourselves, developing technologies and products, and focusing on long-term progress. Thanks to this determination, we now have over 17 million customers worldwide, maintain our position as the number one passenger car exporter in China, and are once again on the Fortune Global 500 list,” said Vice President of Chery International Zhu Shaodong.

The authorized distributor Chery Kazakhstan, part of Astana Motors, has represented the brand in Kazakhstan since 2021. Over this period, more than 40,000 cars were sold, demonstrating their high popularity and demand in the Kazakhstani market.

The key to the company’s success lies in its commitment to the ESG (environmental, social, governance) philosophy, where development is integrated with social responsibility, according to Vice President of Chery International Zhu Shaodong. He discussed prospects for cooperation in developing Asian Parasports and supporting athletes during official meetings with APC President Majid Rashed and NPC Chairman Kairat Boranbayev at the forum.

NPC Chairman Kairat Boranbayev, APC President Majid Rashed, Chery International Vice President Zhu Shaodong, and Astana Motors Distribution Network Development Director Keith Simmons. Photo: Astana Motors

Chery strives to be not just a global brand, but also one that is relatable and understandable to Kazakhstanis, and actively involved in public life. Since the autumn of 2024, Chery has been an official partner of the National Paralympic Committee, supporting Paralympic athletes at tournaments and initiating important social projects. These include the “Fun Starts” sports games for children with disabilities and other projects to develop an accessible and inclusive environment.

Sports training hall at the Paralympic Training Center in Astana. Photo: Astana Motors

“It’s a great and honorable mission to be the general partner of the National Paralympic Committee. Every time, I’m overwhelmed with feelings and emotions. Interacting with Paralympic athletes helps me rethink my life priorities, redefine my goals, and inspires me to do more for the team and the country as a whole,” said Nurlan Shamgonov, Distribution Director of Chery Kazakhstan.

Leveraging the power of technology and business, the brand will continue making a significant contribution to the development of the Paralympic movement in the country, helping athletes overcome limitations and move forward towards their goals.

The 2025 Asian Awards ceremony. Photo: Astana Motors

The Asian Awards is a key event in Asian Paralympic sports. The prestigious awards took place in Central Asia for the first time. Kazakhstan was chosen to host it, as the Paralympic movement is rapidly gaining momentum here and promoting the values ​​of inclusion and equal opportunity. With the support of the National Paralympic Committee of Kazakhstan, 19 Paralympic sports are actively developing. Over 800 competitions were already held, and Kazakhstani athletes participated in more than 80 international tournaments, including major world competitions.