JAKARTA — Indonesia has set a target to emerge anew as the overall champion in the 10th Asean Para Games scheduled to be held in the Philippines from January 18 to 25, 2020.
Some 300 athletes will take part in the regional multi-event tournament for differently-abled athletes from 11 participating countries in the Southeast Asia region.
“I am optimistic that the Indonesian contingent would be able to repeat its achievements clocked at the 2017 Asean Para Games. During that time, Indonesia had emerged as the overall champion,” National Paralympic Committee (NPC) chairperson Senny Marbun said on Monday.
NPC deputy secretary Rima Ferdianto said out of 16 sports to be contested, the Indonesian contingent is expected to get 70 percent of the gold medals at stake in athletics, swimming, badminton, table tennis, chess, and weightlifting.
“Some 70 percent of the total medals, or 70 gold medals, are expected to be earned in the sports,” Ferdianto said.
Indonesian team chef de mission Andi Herman said any problems would not dampen the spirit of their athletes to retain the overall championship.
“Obstacles related to facilities will not dampen the enthusiasm of athletes, so we will not rely on the facilities at the venue,” Herman said.
In the 2017 Asean Para Games, the Red and White contingent emerged overall champion after pocketing 126 gold, 75 silver, and 50 bronze medals.
The participating countries of Asean Para Games include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. (Antara)
