The Indonesian bowling team poses for a photo after the ASEAN Para Games IX/2017 Kuala Lumpur mixed team bowling game (TPB8+TPB9+TPB9+TPB10) in Sunway Piramid, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday (22/9). The Indonesian team failed to win a medal with 2,503 pins, while Malaysia won the gold medal scoring 3,263 pins.
KUALA LUMPUR, FRIDAY – Despite training without the support of equipment and test games, Indonesia’s disabled athletes competing at the ASEAN Para Games Kuala Lumpur 2017 proved physical and material limitations were not a hindrance. The hard work of the special needs athletes bore sweet fruit as Indonesia finished as the overall champion.
“Indonesia is the champion. We have managed to achieve our main mission at the ASEAN Para Games 2017 by regaining the crown as overall champion. This victory for me is like redeeming and healing our failure at the SEA Games,” said Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi in a press release, Friday (22/9).
“The mentality of being a winner is actually already present inside of them when they fight to beat limitations, refusing to give up and become Indonesia’s sporting heroes. I salute them and am proud of the victory that has been fully achieved in the manner of good sportsmanship,” Imam said.
Regarding the bonuses for the medal-winning disabled athletes, Imam reiterated the commitment he had stated before. “President Joko Widodo has reminded that the bonuses given must be the same as those given to SEA Games athletes,” he said.
As of Friday 10:25 p.m., the Indonesian contingent swooped 116 gold medals, 70 silver and 46 bronze, which surpassed the target of 107 gold medals. The “Red White” beat host Malaysia, which finished second with 90 gold medals, 82 silver and 77 bronze. Behind Malaysia is Thailand with 62 gold medals, 64 silver and 83 bronze.
With a difference of 26 gold medals, Malaysia will not be able to catch up with Indonesia as there are only 19 gold medals left to be won on the last day on Saturday.
In the table tennis event, Indonesia has grabbed eight gold and four silver medals. Indonesia will add three more gold medals to its tally as the three finals to be played today will be all-Indonesian finals. “The athletes are enthusiastic. It can be confirmed that Indonesia is the champion in table tennis because it will get 11-14 gold medals,” said table tennis coach Rima Ferdianto.
In the athletics, swimming and badminton events, Indonesia has also established itself as the strongest contingent. Indonesia’s athletics team collected 40 gold medals, 28 silver and 17 bronze. The result surpassed the initial target, which only aimed for 36 gold medals. The achievement of the athletes exceeded the achievement of Indonesian athletes in Singapore in 2015, where they won 27 gold medals, falling short of Thailand’s 30 gold medals.
“This achievement is because of the hard work of the entire team. It is also due to the contribution of gold medals by the new athletes recruited from the 2016 National Paralympics Week and the categories that were not targeted to win gold,” said athletics coach Slamet Widodo.
On the last day of the athletics competition, on Friday, the Indonesian athletics team collected five gold medals. The additional gold was from Maluku runner Erens Sabandar in the men’s T45/46 200-meter category (23.49 seconds). This is Erens third gold medal. He has already won the gold medal in T42-47 400-meter and 4x400-meter relay race categories.
The second gold was presented by Nur Ferry Pradana from the T47 200 meter race (22.49 seconds). Before this, Nur Ferry, who is from East Kalimantan finished the fastest in the 100 meters and 400 meters.
Abdul Halim Dalimunthe grabbed three gold medals in the men’s T11 200-meter category (24.04 seconds. Prior to this, he won a gold medal from the 100-meter race.
The fourth gold came from Alan Sastra in the men’s F57 shot put category, scoring a shot of 11.04 meters. This is Alan’s second gold after winning the disc throw category.
Indonesia’s achievement became complete with a gold from the men’s T42-47 4x400 meter relay race. The team comprises Erens, Wagiyo, Mega Amir Sidik and Marthin Losu. Indonesia finished first (43.15 seconds).
The cerebral palsy soccer team also made history by winning a gold medal. The team coached by Fadilah Umar won 3-0 against Thailand in the final.
In the swimming event, Indonesia took home five gold, three of them also managed to break the ASEAN Para Games.
A gold medal was won by Jendy Pangabean in the individual SM9 200 meter medley category (2 minutes 33.37 seconds). Jendy broke the record of 2 minutes 38.47 seconds set by himself in Singapore 2015.
Gold was also presented by Muhammad Samsi (individual SM 14 200 meters medley), as well as by a Daniel Nugroho, Irfan Septiana, Kevin Ode Natama and Muhammad Bejita (men’s S14 4x100 medley).
