Indonesia’s success at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics cannot be separated from the government’s role, which gave full support to all sports disciplines the contingent competed in, Indonesian National Paralympic Committee (NPC) chairman Senny Marbun has said.
He praised Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali for allowing Indonesian NPC athletes to participate in various international events, thereby helping 23 athletes become eligible for the world’s largest sports event for disabled athletes.
“This year’s achievement is extraordinary and without the support of Minister Amali, this achievement would not have been possible. We express our gratitude for the prayers of the Indonesian people,” Marbun remarked as the last contingent group arrived at Soekarno-Hatta Airport on Tuesday morning.
“I thank you all very much, especially to Mr. President Joko Widodo who has led us to carve this extraordinary achievement. Because in the era of Mr. Jokowi’s leadership, NPCs could be equal to non-disabled people. This sparked our enthusiasm to achieve great success,” he added.
He was referring to Indonesia’s achievement, which has exceeded all targets, at the Tokyo Paralympics.
Before leaving for Tokyo, Indonesia had set four targets. Initially, Indonesia planned to send 15 athletes to compete in six sports. However, after following a series of qualifications, this number increased to 23 athletes competing in seven sports.
Indonesia was targeting one gold, one silver, and three bronze and to finish in the top 60. After struggling, Indonesia managed to bring home two golds, three silvers, and four bronzes.
This has put Indonesia in the 46th place in the Tokyo Paralympics medal ranking.
This achievement has topped Indonesia’s performance at the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016. At the time, Indonesia had managed to bring home one bronze and finished in the 76th place.
Several athletes won medals for Indonesia at the Tokyo Paralympics this year. Leani Ratri Oktila/Khalimatus Sadiyah (women’s doubles SL3-SU5 para-badminton) and Leani Ratri Oktila/Hary Susanto (mixed doubles SL3-SU5 para-badminton) clinched two gold medals for the nation.
Ni Nengah Widiasih (women’s 41kg para-powerlifting), Dheva Anrimusthi (men’s singles SU5 para-badminton), and Leani Ratri Oktila (women’s singles SL4 para-badminton) won three silver medals.
Then, Saptoyogo Purnomo (para-athletic 100m T37), Suryo Nugroho (men’s singles SU5 para-badminton), Fredy Setiawan (men’s singles SL4 para-badminton), and David Jacobs (grade 10 para-table tennis) won four bronze medals for Indonesia.
Source: Antara News