A

span class="inline inline-left">All out: Indonesian Agus Suprayitno (left) speeds up to the finish line in men’s 100 meters wheelchair during 6th ASEAN Para Games in Surakarta, Central Java, on Friday. Track and field hosted 19 matches on the second day of the Para Games. Antara/Ismar PratizkiA total of 38 records have been broken on the second day of the 6th ASEAN Para Games in Surakarta, with Thailand leading the medal hunt with 21 golds, 14 silvers and 11 bronze medals on Friday.

Indonesia followed, with 17 golds, 11 silvers and 18 bronzes, while Vietnam were in third with six golds, 14 silvers and 12 bronzes. Laos and Timor-Leste have not yet won any medals.

Of the 38 new records, Indonesian athletes made seven new records in swimming and two records in track and field.

“I’m really proud that our athletes have done their best so far, especially with the support from [newly elected Indonesian Sports Council chief] Tono Suratman and Youth and Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng during the matches,” Indonesia’s swimming head coach Devi Rachyuanto told The Jakarta Post over the phone.

“Pak Tono even came directly to our winning athletes to congratulate them. It was a good morale booster for them,” he added.

The seven new records in swimming were made by Agus Ngaimim and Lamri in the men’s 100-m back stroke, Daniel C. Patay in the men’s 50-m breaststroke, Apia Rumboru in women’s 50-m breaststroke, Mulyana in men’s 50-m butterfly, Rahmayana women’s 50-m freestyle and Max Tamaro in men’s 50-m freestyle (S13).

The host aims for 35 gold medals from a total of 128 offered in swimming.

In the Friday race, Indonesian Agus Ngaimin clocked 1 minute 23.68 seconds to make the first record in the category, Daniel clocked a time of 45.55 seconds to break his own record of 47.16 in the 2008 Para Games in Thailand, while Apia recorded 43.06 seconds to improve on her pervious record of 45.90 in the 2009 Para Games in Malaysia.

The country’s three new records in track and field were made by Handoyo, who clocked 11.34 seconds in the men’s 100-m group 1 to qualify for the semifinals. Handoyo broke the games record of 11.83s, set by Winai Sangchuang of Thailand, which was made in Manila, 2005.

Handoyo’s countryman, Losu Marthin, also broke the same record, clocking 11.55s to qualify.

In table tennis, the host collected four gold medals from the five on offer during the second day of the event.

The gold medalists were David Mikael Yakob-Komet Akbar in the men’s double class 6-10 (standing), Hardiyanto Tatok-Tarsilem in the mixed double class 1-2 (wheelchair), David Mikael Yakob-Suwarti in the mixed double class 6-10 (standing) and Shella Dwi Radayan-Suwarti in the women’s double class 6-10 (standing).

Indonesia’s table tennis team manager Bejo Kustino hoped that Friday’s achievements could boost his team’s morale in grabbing more gold medals in days ahead.

Indonesia expects about 30 to 35 gold medals from table tennis. With such high expectations, athletes hope that the government will treat the Para Games athletes equally to SEA Games athletes.

“We cannot ask for the exact same [sum in bonuses] with SEA Games athletes, but at least minimize the gap. Nevertheless, I will remain focused on the matches. I believe that the government will make the best decision,” said David, 34, from Jakarta.