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Para Games kick off, host shuttlers win first gold
The government’s apparent lack of appreciation toward athletes competing at the 6th ASEAN Para Games in Surakarta did not dampen the spirit of the host badminton men’s doubles team on Thursday, as it won Indonesia’s first gold medal on the opening day of the Games
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he government’s apparent lack of appreciation toward athletes competing at the 6th ASEAN Para Games in Surakarta did not dampen the spirit of the host badminton men’s doubles team on Thursday, as it won Indonesia’s first gold medal on the opening day of the Games.
Down, and soon to be out: Indonesian men’s singles shuttler Suryo Nugroho misses a return shot against Malaysian opponent Cheah Like Hou during the men’s team final at the 6th ASEAN Para Games on Thursday in Surakarta, Central Java. Suryo lost the match after retiring due to injury. Antara/Ismar Patrizki
The win came not long after the Thai women’s wheelchair tennis team beat the host 2-0 to win the the very first gold on offer.
The Indonesian men’s doubles badminton team secured the first gold for the country after defeating Malaysia 2-1 in Thursday’s final. Vietnam won the bronze medal after defeating Thailand.
Indonesia’s badminton team manager M. Nurahman said the host badminton team had dominated the Para Games badminton scene for the past eight years.
Vice President Boediono officially opened the Para Games at 8 p.m.
Around 17,000 spectators wearing various patterns of Javanese traditional cloth batik flocked to the Manahan Stadium.
Torch bearer and Papuan swimmer Daniel Carlos carried the torch on a Kencana carriage that was driven into the stadium. He handed the torch to mountain climber Sabar Gorky, who then climbed 5-meters high and descended 40-meters down to the north tribune, to the cauldron.
Former men’s 100-meter sprinter Memed Lesmana received the torch at the foot of the cauldron. The 1984 Paralympic Games silver medalist climbed the stairs and lit up the cauldron to declare that the Games had begun.
The first gold triumph occured amid disappointments over government bonus promises. Youth and Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng recently announced a Rp 30 million bonus for gold medalists in the Para Games, far below the Rp 200 million bonus awarded for gold medalists at the recent SEA Games.
Prior to the opening ceremony, Mallarangeng revised the announcement, saying the bonuses would be raised to Rp 40 million for gold medalist, Rp 15 million for silver medalist and Rp 7.5 million for bronze medalist.
Indonesia’s National Paralympic Committee (NPC) chairman Rio Suseno had earlier regretted the discrimination in relation to the sum of the future bonus.
“Our athletes felt down once the government announced the nominal value of the bonus, which was not even one third of the bonus for SEA Games athletes,” said Rio.
“If that discrimination must happen, at least the government should keep it confidential for the sake of a sense of equality. Do not make statements that will only depress us.”
“The government should have shown more appreciation because we fight as hard. Does this mean the gold medals we contribute are only worth half as much?” questioned Rio.
Indonesia will deploy 250 athletes and is targeting 140 gold medals to raise the country to overall champion at the Para Games. Two years ago, Indonesia finished fourth with 29 golds, below overall champion Thailand (157), Malaysia (94) and Vietnam (73).
Whilst the badminton team celebrated the first gold in Sritex Arena, Indonesia’s swimmers were still waiting anxiously for the completion of venue preparations at the Manahan Tirtomoyo swimming pool. The swimming competition will start on Friday, offering a total 134 gold medals.
“We purchased the pool’s lane lines four months ago, but they had only arrived this morning. That’s why we only installed them today,” organizing committee assistant at the Manahan Tirtomoyo pool, Winda Yustitia said. The organizers also had to cancel changing the pool’s starting blocks with new ones, due to time constraints.
Indonesia’s swimming team manager Dimin Ba said the host swimmers would not be testing the lanes later on Thursday. “We want to save our energy for the competition,” said Dimin. As many as 38 Indonesian swimmers are competing for 30 golds.
Indonesia ASEAN Para Games (INASPOC) director James Tangkudung acknowledged that delays of competition equipment had hampered the goal ball sport.
“We had to directly purchase the balls for goal ball, due to the delay from the company partner that was supposed to make the required equipment available,” said James.
