Indonesia Exceeds Gold Medal Target at Asian Para Games

President Jokowi takes a group photo with the athletes on the 2018 Asian Para Games, Wednesday (10/10). (Photo by: BPMI).

Indonesia has succeeded in exceeding the target of 16 winning gold medals at the 2018 Asian Para Games.

The Indonesian contingent now has collected 23 gold medals, Indonesia’s highest achievement during its participation in the Asian Para Games so far.

For the record, Indonesia only won one single gold medal at the 2010 Asian Para Games in Guangzhou, China and rose to nine gold medals on the 2014 Asian Para Games in Incheon, South Korea.

“This is a new history for Indonesia. We must be proud of this extraordinary achievement. I would like to express my gratitude to all the hard-working athletes, the coaches and official team who helped the athletes as well as the Chief of Mission Armin Syah who oversee the preparation of the athletes,” Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi, adding that he also thanked the psychologists team who always accompanied the athletes.

The Minister also appreciated the supporters who are willing to attend the matches and shows their enthusiasm at the venues.

The Indonesia’s new achievement was secured on the fourth day of the 2018 Asian Para Games. A total of 15 gold medals were won by:

Athletics
– Kharisma Evi Tiarani (women’s 100m sprint T42/63),
– Putri Aulia (women’s 100m sprint T13),

Table Tennis
– M. Riah Prahasta/Suwarti (Mixed Doubles Class 6-8),
– Agus Sutanto/Tatok Hardiyanto (Men’s Double TT 4-5),
– David Jacobs/Komet Akbar (Men’s Double TT 10),

Chess
– Carsidi, Edy Suryanto, Hendy Wirawan (Men’s Team Classical VI – B2/B3),
– Hendy Wirawan (Male Singles Classic VI – B2/B3),
– Debi Ariesta, Tati Karhati, Wilma Margaretha Sinaga (Women’s Team Classical VI – B1),
– Debi Ariesta (Women’s Singles Classic VI – B1),
– Nasip Farta Simanja, Roslina, Yuni (Women’s Team Classical VI – P1),
– Nasip Farta Simanja (Women’s Singles Classic VI-P1),

Lawn Bowl
– Mella Windasari (Individual B6)
– Dwi Widiantoro (Individual Open B1)
– Suwondo (Individual Open B4)
– Julia Verawati (Individual Open B2)

Imam also expressed optimism that the Indonesian contingent will continue to win more gold medals because there are still many sports to be contested. Moreover, there are many results that have exceeded the target, such as Table Tennis and Chess which bagged more gold medals than the target.

“We don’t set a target on Lawn Bowl since this is a new sport. However, we can adapt more at the venue and this is the advantage of being a host. It makes us more prepared than other countries and in the end we get four gold medals,” the Minister said.

Another historical moment took place at the women’s 100m T13 athletic. Putri Aulia broke the Asian Para Games record with a time of 12.49 seconds, surpassed the Chinese sprinter Lin Zhu of 13.13 second time record. Moreover, Indonesia contingent swept away the medal on women’s 100m sprint T13 after Endang Sari Sitorus and Ni Made Arianti Putri won silver medal and bronze medal, respectively.

The Minister also expressed hope that this success can be maintained and continues to the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo. “Let’s pray for it and please come to the match venue to encourage our sports heroes’ directly,” he said.

Until 07:00 p.m. local time yesterday, Indonesia is placed on fifth rank in the medal tally with 23 gold medals, 28 silver and 31 bronze medals. (Humas Kemenpora/EN) (GWH/EP/Naster)